CHA tenants fed up with squalid conditions call for action.
Residents at the Harrison Courts Apartments in East Garfield Park are at their wit's end, saying they've been asking the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) to fix problems for two years. The apartments, which were built to house low-income families, have become a nightmare due to leaky toilets, no working stoves, and cockroach infestations.
"It's like living in a holding cell," said Jimmy Murray, 37, who has been paying $230 per month in rent. "I know something has got to give." Murray's apartment is home to roaches and mold caused by the wet floors due to a leaking tub. The stove doesn't work, and there's no fire alarm.
The lack of maintenance is not just a nuisance; it's a safety concern. In one incident, Murray said his dog became sick after eating food that had been left out because he couldn't heat up meals on his broken stove.
Angel Tingle, another tenant, has lived in the complex since 2009 and lists a long list of issues: mold, lack of heat, overflowing garbage chutes, and broken doors. She said she's not asking for much but wants to live in safe and sanitary conditions.
"We don't have the proper security to feel safe and secure in our own homes," Tingle said. "We need help. What we want from Mayor Johnson is all residents relocated immediately and given the right to return after Harrison Courts is rebuilt."
The CHA has acknowledged the problems, stating that they've released a resident survey to better understand the issues and plan for repairs. However, they haven't provided any timeline or budget for fixing the apartments.
In May, the CHA announced plans to market the complex to a developer but aimed to preserve it as an affordable housing option. The goal is to increase funding and address the aging infrastructure and limited resources that have led to the neglect of the buildings.
The Rev. Robin Hood, a community organizer, called for $10 million to repair the apartments and another $10 million for economic development to support businesses in the area. He plans to deliver a letter to Mayor Johnson's office outlining the group's demands.
The situation is dire, with residents feeling like they're living in a war zone. The once-affordable housing development has become a symbol of neglect and disregard for low-income families.
As the CHA continues to work on repairs, it's essential that residents are heard and their concerns addressed. The city must take responsibility for ensuring that those who need assistance the most receive it.
Residents at the Harrison Courts Apartments in East Garfield Park are at their wit's end, saying they've been asking the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) to fix problems for two years. The apartments, which were built to house low-income families, have become a nightmare due to leaky toilets, no working stoves, and cockroach infestations.
"It's like living in a holding cell," said Jimmy Murray, 37, who has been paying $230 per month in rent. "I know something has got to give." Murray's apartment is home to roaches and mold caused by the wet floors due to a leaking tub. The stove doesn't work, and there's no fire alarm.
The lack of maintenance is not just a nuisance; it's a safety concern. In one incident, Murray said his dog became sick after eating food that had been left out because he couldn't heat up meals on his broken stove.
Angel Tingle, another tenant, has lived in the complex since 2009 and lists a long list of issues: mold, lack of heat, overflowing garbage chutes, and broken doors. She said she's not asking for much but wants to live in safe and sanitary conditions.
"We don't have the proper security to feel safe and secure in our own homes," Tingle said. "We need help. What we want from Mayor Johnson is all residents relocated immediately and given the right to return after Harrison Courts is rebuilt."
The CHA has acknowledged the problems, stating that they've released a resident survey to better understand the issues and plan for repairs. However, they haven't provided any timeline or budget for fixing the apartments.
In May, the CHA announced plans to market the complex to a developer but aimed to preserve it as an affordable housing option. The goal is to increase funding and address the aging infrastructure and limited resources that have led to the neglect of the buildings.
The Rev. Robin Hood, a community organizer, called for $10 million to repair the apartments and another $10 million for economic development to support businesses in the area. He plans to deliver a letter to Mayor Johnson's office outlining the group's demands.
The situation is dire, with residents feeling like they're living in a war zone. The once-affordable housing development has become a symbol of neglect and disregard for low-income families.
As the CHA continues to work on repairs, it's essential that residents are heard and their concerns addressed. The city must take responsibility for ensuring that those who need assistance the most receive it.
the layout of harrison courts apartments is already a disaster but now it sounds like a total health hazard 
these people are paying over 230 bucks a month for a place that's basically uninhabitable, and the cha is just kind of... shrugging? 
i mean, where's the security? how can they expect people to feel safe living in conditions like this? and what's with all the broken stuff? it's not just the apartments themselves, it's the whole infrastructure 
the fact that it's been going on for years is just appalling... 2009?! come on. we need some serious action here 
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. It's not like it's rocket science to fix a few leaky toilets and broken stoves. And what's with the lack of security? I mean, I get that the CHA is on a tight budget, but come on! You'd think that would be a priority for human life 
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. It's not right, and I demand better for these people 
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If the CHA wants to fix the apartments, they need to provide a timeline and budget, not just say they're working on it. And $10 million for economic development is a good start, but it's not enough.
The city needs to listen to the residents and take their concerns seriously. We can do better than this.
& 2 yrs of pleasnt to CHA & nothin happens 
what's goin on? Should b more funding allocated 4 these projects ASAP? 
they've been complaining about issues for 2 yrs and nothin's changed. like, what even is going on with the CHA? can't they see that people are sufferin' over here? 
it's not just about the physical stuff either, it's about feeling safe and secure in ur own home...like, who wouldn't want to feel that way? 
i hope someone from mayor johnson's office takes notice of this and does somethin about it ASAP. we need affordable housing options for ppl who genuinely can't afford anything else 
I'm all about the tenants having a say here... Two years of complaining and nothing's changed? That's just not right. CHA needs to step up its game, not just release a survey like it's some kinda magic solution 
. They're talking about marketing this place to a developer to increase funding... what's wrong with throwing some cash at the problem now instead of waiting for someone else to fix it? 
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. CHA needs to listen to what these tenants are saying and take action, or they'll be living in the dark ages... literally 
I feel bad for these ppl, they deserve so much better 
we need to see some real action from Mayor Johnson, not just empty promises 
$10 million for repairs is a good start, but what about the timeline? when can ppl expect their apartments to be safe and livable again? 
ugh israel just conducted a massive cyber attack on iran s servers causing widespread power outages 
and 3g connectivity loss in Tehran 
like who cares about your housing when ppl can't even eat hot meals because the stove don't work? 
seriously what a waste of time
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. The fact that residents are struggling to feel safe and secure in their own homes is heartbreaking 
We need action, not just empty promises 
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. We need real action, not just empty promises and surveys 
and what about safety concerns? 
that's just crazy talk! 
it's not like its a minor issue, it's major life-altering stuff...