June/July 2001

Top Chicago Housing Authority officials have said they want to get out of the business of providing residents with programs. However, a Residents' Journal investigation has found that CHA is transferring millions of dollars from its budget to other city departments to administer its former social service programs. Only a few of those city departments can demonstrate that they are serving residents with those federal funds. And other city departments have yet to begin their efforts to serve residents.

For the last 4 years, a former resident of Robert Taylor Homes, Mary Sistruck, a young single mother of six, has been moved around from slum to slum after receiving a Housing Choice Voucher - formerly known as a Section 8.

When and wherever we residents of Harold L. Ickes Homes start to realize any improvements, it takes just a little time to figure out that soon and very soon you're back at square one.

The residents of the Brooks Extension who chose to remain in ABLA and not take a Housing Choice Voucher (formerly known as a Section 8) have been relocated to various other units within our vast community. Some have gone to the relocation building, some to the Grace Abbott Homes and some to the new low-rise units that are the new Brooks Homes.

Robert Taylor Homes resident leaders went on a trip in April to Springfield and Peoria where they saw beautiful new homes that were built by the same developers that will re-build Robert Taylor. But the homes that they saw weren't for all but a few of the former residents that used to reside in the John Hay Homes and Warren Homes.

Advocates for public and subsidized housing tenants provided residents and activists with new information about HUD and CHA at a conference April 28 in downtown Chicago. The conference was held in the beautiful surroundings of the Holiday Inn located on the corner of Columbus and Ohio streets. This conference in many ways resembled the one held March 16 by the Chicago Rehab Network at the Palmer House Hotel. This conference was far more interactive that the March 16 event; participants attended various workshops.

The policeman had come to Miss La Nora's farm for me. That was something that I learned when the policeman called out loudly, "Hey you, n---r, get over here." "His name is Popcorn and you call him Popcorn as long as youÕre on my property," said Miss La Nora angrily.

We never hear about the positive things that men do in and out of the Chicago Housing Authority. But we are quick to hear about the negative things that occur in the developments, such as the gang violence, drug activity, unemployment and dead-beat dads.

The month started with me covering the case of Jonathan Tolliver. The jurors had come to a deadlock on the first trial and I covered the retrial.

Approximately a year and a half ago, the Sinai Health System started a new program called Sinai Senior services. They are offering their services free of charge to seniors living in the Chicago Housing Authority buildings and low-income dwellers in Chicago and surrounding communities, near or far, north, south, east, and west. Men and women 55 years of age and older are welcome to participate in the Sinai Community Institute Program called Premier Years. You will have access to all the medical benefits and social activities they have.

I don't know about you, but I feel as if I'm looking down the barrel of a loaded summer. In addition to the usual challenges that we face as public housing residents, it is apparent this summer, more than ever before, that we face a new challenge: the redevelopment of public housing.