In Our Community . . . 

 On July 14th, the  Evansville City Council, led by President Alex Burton (D) voted unanimously to approve $400,000 in funding to help build 10 affordable housing units in the city.  The vote demonstrated the commitment of all council members to put aside partisan differences to support low-income housing in Evansville.  The Democratic majority council also committed $168,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to HOPE of Evansville. The money will be used primarily to help families make down payments on their purchase of a home — a fundamental building block to lift people out of generational poverty and on to the path to financial stability.

Protecting Public Health . . .

Kudos to Vanderburgh County Councilwoman Stephanie Terry (D) for taking the lead to make $50,000 available for new COVID-19 testing to local areas most in need of testing last month.  The testing was conducted by the county health department as part of a joint effort with the Vanderburgh County Commission through the Vanderburgh County COVID-19 Resource and Awareness Task Force, established last May.   As a result, two free drive-up testing sites operated in July and August.     

 Vanderburgh County Commission President Jeff Hatfield (D) said the county must have more COVID-19 testing if our community is going to successfully contain the virus until a vaccine and therapeutic remedies are available.  Hatfield also strongly encouraged all residents to use face masks and employ social distancing when out in public as the most proven way to help prevent the spread of the disease.   Contact the Vanderburgh Co. Health Department (812.435.2400) for more information or register online for a test at:  lhi.care/covidtesting (or call 888-634-1116.)