------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> 4 DVDs Free +s&p Join Now http://us.click.yahoo.com/pt6YBB/NXiEAA/MVfIAA/tOsolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: CPPH_Info-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ There is 1 message in this issue. Topics in this digest: 1. Robert Taylor Homes - Many at risk of CHA eviction - Chicago Sun Times From: Grant ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Message: 1 Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2002 07:49:35 -0700 (PDT) From: Grant Subject: Robert Taylor Homes - Many at risk of CHA eviction - Chicago Sun Times --- Wayne Sherwood wrote: Many at risk of CHA eviction Chicago Sun-Times September 16, 2002 BY KATE N. GROSSMAN STAFF REPORTER Nine of out 10 families remaining at the Robert Taylor Homes, one of the Chicago Housing Authority's most downtrodden projects, are at risk of getting kicked out because of drug use, late rent or huge light bills, according to a new study that offers one of the first comprehensive looks at some of the CHA's most troubled families. If discovered, these offenses jeopardize a family's right to return to public housing after the CHA demolishes its decaying high-rises and delivers a promised 25,000 new or renovated units by 2010. Families in two of three buildings studied are supposed to move by Sept. 30. "This is a vulnerable population, and the pace of relocation should be slowed to bring that number [of lease violators] down," said Columbia University sociologist Sudhir Venkatesh, who studied 400 families, including 112 living off the books. CHA officials said they were "humbled" by Venkatesh's findings, which were released today, but said the number of families who are officially out of compliance is small--about 20 percent among those moving Sept. 30. Kathryn Greenberg, a top CHA official, also said that families get a "cure" period to pay back rent or fight a drug arrest. During this time, families can move to a fixed-up unit in a building that isn't closing. "We think the opportunity to stay in public housing and really try to solve some of these issues is a really good decision on CHA's part," she said. But Venkatesh raised questions about the system for "curing" what ails residents and the quality of help they get before and after a move, particularly at Taylor and other highly dysfunctional projects. "There is just a dearth of resources relative to this population," said Venkatesh, who spent 18 months studying Taylor, along with resident Beauty Turner. Greenberg said the CHA already has used some of Venkatesh's suggestions and is open to others, such as using social service workers, instead of police, to remove squatters. And Meghan Harte, who oversees relocation, says Venkatesh was on the mark in saying that help for needy families who've left CHA for private apartments is insufficient. Still, CHA officials refuse to slow demolition while they make changes, which they did last year. Many families say they're better off after moving out, Greenberg said, and keeping up dilapidated, low-occupancy high-rises is a safety risk and a poor use of scarce dollars. "We have to balance the consequences [of moving people out now] with the status quo in these buildings," Greenberg said. "Because families can move to another public housing unit, we don't think the consequences outweigh right now." ================= Time's running out for residents to move Chicago Sun-Times, 9/16/2002 BY KATE N. GROSSMAN STAFF REPORTER On a chilly evening last March, about 25 residents gathered in a cavernous meeting room at the Stateway Gardens public housing development to learn their fate. In six months, two Stateway buildings, along with six others around the city that house 550 families, were due to close. "I've been here all my life, and I'm ready to go," Donna Wade, a no-nonsense mother of an 18-year-old daughter, said at the time. But last week, as the Sept. 30 closing date drew near, more than half of the families had not moved. And a third of the families--including Wade's--were still scrambling to find new homes. *** It's Wednesday, Sept. 11, and Learna Solsberry's Stateway office is packed with families trying to beat the Sept. 30 deadline. "OK! OK! I need to see you back here at 1 p.m.," Solsberry shouts to one anxious woman, one of many Solsberry is helping use a voucher to rent a private apartment. "And tell her she got her place," Solsberry says to another, who is the go-between for Solsberry and the woman's deaf grandmother. The grandmother, who has lived in public housing 42 years, breaks into a full-toothed grin, raises her hands to the heavens and stands, spontaneously dancing a music-less jig. "All I have to say is, 'Praise God,'" says a smiling Solsberry. That day, the grandmother is one of the lucky ones. But for many of the families, the clock continues to tick. Over the last six months, each family made a choice. Find a private apartment or move to another Chicago Housing Authority building as the agency tears down and rebuilds. Most chose private housing in this round of relocation. To help, CHA officials, in an improved but still flawed relocation system, have held countless meetings, sent families to "good neighbor" training and assigned counselors to help find apartments. Compared with other developments, Stateway's relocation process is known as one of the better ones. But as of last week, only 40 percent of the families had moved. Based on experience, CHA officials believe most will be out by Sept. 30--by Friday, half of the families who remained had moves scheduled. And CHA officials are willing to delay the closure until mid-October to give families extra time. But some families face hurdles far greater than simple procrastination. About 20 percent of the families who wanted vouchers aren't eligible, usually because of credit problems, late rent or pending drug cases. They can move into other CHA buildings as they try, with promised help from the CHA, to clear their records. But for those trying to beat an arrest, a loss could mean an eviction and no right to return to the CHA after redevelopment. "I'm not one of the happy ones," said Bridgette Williams, a mother of four, as she slumped in a dirty chair in her barren apartment at Stateway. She was denied a voucher because four people were arrested in her apartment on a drug-related offense when she was not home, she said. "I just wanted a change, something better," she said wearily. And 33 percent of families who wanted a private apartment had not found one as of last week. Some started too late, some couldn't find one, and others found apartments that failed a required inspection. CHA officials said they will get a newly renovated CHA unit and counselors will keep helping them look. That's where Donna Wade, a resourceful 35-year-old, was Wednesday morning. Since that March meeting, Wade, who earns $6.75 an hour as an aide for homebound elderly, has been on track to move out. After thinking about leaving for years, she saw this as her big chance. She had stayed at Stateway because family nearby could help with her daughter and she couldn't afford anything else. She found a place in late July, but it failed inspection in August. Since then, she has been on the go, house-hunting and fretting. She's the only one left on her floor at Stateway. Nearby, two open apartments are havens for squatters and criminals. Wade, who used to feel safe, now carries a hammer for protection. Late Wednesday, Wade finally got lucky. After looking at several apartments, she landed one. "It's coming together," a breathless Wade said. "I feel so relieved." "Now," she said, smiling freely, "I can start looking forward." But, as Wade and Solsberry know too well, many others still have a long way to go. "I worry about my people making it," Solsberry said as she sorted through papers she hopes will become moving orders for tenants. "It's a change, and some just aren't ready." > __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! 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