Metropolitan Tenants Organization - Chicago, Illinois

City State National Evictions Apartment Conditions & Repair Security Deposits Heat & Other Essential Services Leases Building Security, Locks, & the Law Lockouts and Retaliation Moving In Moving Out Tenant Responsibilities Other Public Housing Section 8 HUD Lead Asthma Mold Smoking	Metropolitan Tenants Organization Monday, April 14, 2008 Housing Policy Recommendations for a Better Chicago Fears of recession have many people worried. Subprime lending and the ensuing foreclosures debacle are blamed for the stumbling markets and growing housing crisis. But blaming subprime loans and foreclosures for provoking the crisis obscures the real cause: our nation's lack of a plan to meet the housing needs of its residents. Routine underfunding of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is another visible example of this lack of a plan. HUD's current $2 billion shortfall means the agency will not have enough money to maintain its supply of subsidized housing. In the private market, the gap between the nation's housing availability and the public's housing needs has widened. For example, the conversion of affordable rental housing into unaffordable condominiums has displaced thousands of renters and increased property taxes. Unfortunately none of the presidential candidates has acknowledged the increasing unaffordability of America's housing. In 2005, according to a study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies, more than 37.3 million U.S. households paid more than 30 percent of their income for housing. These high housing costs lead to an estimated three-quarters of a million people being home less every night; about half of them are children. With this nation's wealth and resources, should we not aspire to a goal of ensuring that everyone has decent, accessible and affordable housing? Housing is far too important to the health and well-being of the nation to be left exclusively to the whims of the market. Government leadership is needed to develop a multifaceted housing plan that balances home ownership and the development and preservation of rental housing. A sound housing policy would do the following: Increase the supply of rental housing, which provides homes to many low- and moderate-income households, through increased incentives such as property tax reductions; expand the nonprofit housing sector, which develops and manages affordable housing, keeps costs down and maintains long-term affordability Increase oversight of lending practices with limits on exploitative subprime loans. John Bartlett, Executive Director MTO As appeared in the Chicago Tribune March 31, 2008, Voices of the People Wednesday, February 20, 2008 MTO and Access Living Host Successful Town Hall Meeting Over 100 subsidized renters flowed into a town hall meeting sponsored by Metropolitan Tenants Organization (MTO) and Access Living with Mr. Edward Hinsberger and Mr. George Gilmore from Chicago Regional HUD offices on February 13. Renters from organizations such as Center for New Horizons, Jane Addams Senior Caucus, Lakeview Action Coalition, People for Community Recovery and Access Living in addition to MTO members came to take advantage of this opportunity to speak directly to HUD management about their concerns. During the two hour meeting numerous renters testified to their living conditions and asked for support from HUD to address the problems. Throughout the meeting, Mr. Hinsberger and Mr. Gilmore took notes and following renters' testimony, they addressed each concern and formulated action plans for follow up. In addition, members of the Chicago Community Congress of Tenants asked and Mr. Hinsberger agreed to work with the Congress to: Hold quarterly meetings between HUD and renters Promote better accountability in rent adjustments and Facilitate work orders being done on time. The Congress also asked Mr. Hinsberger to appoint an ombudsperson to work with subsidized renters and to promote the increased inclusion of renters in the decision making process. Mr. Hinsberger asked for more information about these proposals though he agreed to consider the ideas. Both representatives thanked everyone for the opportunity and a desire to remain in dialogue. Upon leaving the forum, renters expressed a desire to have additional opportunities like this one. The consensus was that this town hall meeting was very helpful. Previous Posts to the MTO Blog
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