An Interview With HOME's Executive Director

Insight Spring 2003

An Interview with HOME'S Executive Director

In May of 1982, Housing Opportunities Made Equal hired a new executive director who has facetiously described himself as “HOME’s longest surviving director”. Scott Gehl has guided the work of HOME for more than half its history. We thought readers might find interesting some of his perspectives.

How is it that you first came to HOME?

I suppose the short answer is that I was in need of work, but of course there’s a bit more to it.

I had first learned of Housing Opportunities Made Equal, while working as a community developer with Buffalo Neighborhood Housing Services in the late 70’s. Because HOME’s purposes were close to my heart, I joined in 1981 while serving as a University District Councilman. (Our original membership record, in Sally Metzger’s own hand, identifies me as “Councilman Scott Gehl”.)

Perhaps because of an innate ability to get along with those in power, my reelection bid was opposed by both the then Mayor and Democratic Chairman. My loss after a vote recount was big news (a banner headline) because it meant that Jim Griffin had finally obtained control of the Council.

A has-been by age 29, I needed to support my family. When Professor Jeanne Ortiz told me of the opening at HOME, I submitted a resume. If only they knew….

Knew what?

Jim Griffin had never liked HOME and when the Board hired me I suspect he liked them a bit less. Accordingly, the City imposed a retroactive hiring freeze and for several weeks we wondered whether I’d ever be paid. George Hezel, in one of his first acts as Board Chair, sat in the office of the City’s Commissioner of Community Development until the freeze was lifted.

Why did the City have power over HOME’s hiring?

In 1982 HOME’s total budget was only about $60,000. Our sole government contract was with the City of Buffalo. Finally, the cost of my hire was a City reduction of more than 40 percent. In those early days, HOME also received a few thousand dollars from the Presbytery of WNY and the United Church of Christ. And, of course, we had the invaluable support of our members.

What about the staff in those days?

HOME had a three-member staff which, combined with our $60,000 budget, everyone recognized was more than equal to the task of eradicating housing discrimination in Western New York.

Compare the state of fair housing in WNY now to the early 1980’s. Has there been progress, and what role has HOME played?

While discrimination had for the most part gone underground (adopting its insidiously covert persona), there were times in those early days when it was not: rocks hurled through windows in the dark of night, racist graffiti, even a racial arson in Lewiston (which, incredibly, was not even reported by the Buffalo News).

Buffalo had a Mayor who had already vetoed a fair housing ordinance (and was later to veto another). There was an Erie County Executive and several supervisors who refused to deal with HOME. And there was a President who, time and again, took positions which many thought were opposed to civil rights.

We have made tremendous progress in terms of public support for fair housing, in part because HOME’s credibility has grown and we are widely recognized as region’s fair housing agency. There has been much sweat, some blood and, I suppose, a few tears in this process.

Today there is little doubt that discrimination is not acceptable, yet the opponents of equal opportunity have merely become more artful in their rationales.

Have there been memorable cases and victories?

Yes, many. But you know, what stays with me the most are the relatively few defeats—when, despite our best efforts, HOME could not obtain justice for our clients. I have seen first hand how much courage it takes to file a discrimination case—to agree to relive so traumatic an experience. It’s simply unacceptable to have a judge rule against you, or a jury to award nominal damages.

While HOME has enjoyed an incredible record of success over the years due to the hard work of our staff and cooperating attorneys, our few losses never leave me.

Regarding the future of fair housing, what opportunities do you see for progress?

We must make it illegal to discriminate against the poor, whose housing choices are already limited by what they can afford. It is absurd that as a society, we permit discrimination due to source of income. (Was it Martin Luther King who said we should be judged by how we treat the least fortunate among us?)

Secondly, we need to expand the scope of fair housing laws to cover more of our housing stock. Owner-occupants must comply with landlord-tenant law, building and health codes. Why not fair housing law?

We should also look at issues like discrimination in the lending and insurance industries and the devastating impact of sprawl, which drains resources from our cities and reinforces existing patterns of residential segregation.

In this era of declining public resources, government should recognize the attributes of HOME—an early and entirely successful example of regionalism.

What motivates you to continue your work at HOME?

It is neither the hours nor the salary, I assure you.

At HOME, we are able to help individuals and families in great need—some of whom have no place else to turn. In the process, we are able to contribute in a small way to the creation of a more just and equitable society. For many years I’ve been asked when I will leave HOME. My answer has been when I find something closer to my heart.

The other motivation is people here—both on staff and the board—some of the most extraordinary and dedicated people I’ve ever known. HOME is a very special place, and I’ve been privileged to play a part.

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