Accountability and Transparency
Consider videostreaming the CHA Board of Commissioners meetings on the CHA's Youtube channel to increase transparency.
Aligned with Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s vision for effective communication and increased transparency in government, what measures should CHA adopt to engage greater citizen participation, foster communication, and promote accountability?
25 votes
Consider videostreaming the CHA Board of Commissioners meetings on the CHA's Youtube channel to increase transparency.
19 votes
We live in an area that is dense with scattered sited housing, and find that most of the units do not have any landscaping - just mud and dirt in the front - and reflect poorly on our neighborhood, and make the area look run down. We have been to several meetings where high ranking members of CHA were in attendance, and we had the opportunity to bring these issues up with them, and have followed up for 2 years, and have ...more »
We live in an area that is dense with scattered sited housing, and find that most of the units do not have any landscaping - just mud and dirt in the front - and reflect poorly on our neighborhood, and make the area look run down. We have been to several meetings where high ranking members of CHA were in attendance, and we had the opportunity to bring these issues up with them, and have followed up for 2 years, and have seen no improvement. If you want to have all of these units in one area, take care of them. And I felt that we were constantly put off, with responses such as - we are looking for a landscaper, we have a landscaper now, but are evaluating his ideas, etc....
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10 votes
Building all these units and the same people are let back in, I thought SCREENING was done, shouldn't there be some limitations/requirements. It's so much crap with CHA, I just opted to keep paying full markets rent just to keep my peace of mind smh... I got on the list in 2004... 2004 AND STILL waiting, it's 2012 lol. Then they called I went in, the lady said she had a unit for me , but I had a form missing, I got the ...more »
Building all these units and the same people are let back in, I thought SCREENING was done, shouldn't there be some limitations/requirements. It's so much crap with CHA, I just opted to keep paying full markets rent just to keep my peace of mind smh... I got on the list in 2004... 2004 AND STILL waiting, it's 2012 lol. Then they called I went in, the lady said she had a unit for me , but I had a form missing, I got the form brought it back and ANOTHER lady says, "I don't know why she called you, we don't have a unit available for you yet" lololol AND that was NOT the first time that happened. I just stopped checking on my application, I don't even bother, I like where I live, the rent is not cheap, but I budget and me and my 2 sons live comfortable. When they get their s*** together, then we can talk:) Right now the WHOLE program is a mess smh
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5 votes
I sometimes wonder why many people have their pre-conceived notions regarding Public Housing Residents. Based on my experiences in living in PH and Section8 I have come to realize that although their are some lazy unmotivated tenants, CHA never responds to the negative remarks made on all of it's tenants and that saddens me because that is not who we are and based on the rents collected they know that, most on site staff ...more »
I sometimes wonder why many people have their pre-conceived notions regarding Public Housing Residents. Based on my experiences in living in PH and Section8 I have come to realize that although their are some lazy unmotivated tenants, CHA never responds to the negative remarks made on all of it's tenants and that saddens me because that is not who we are and based on the rents collected they know that, most on site staff tries to belittle the residents that keeps them employed. during my stay in PH over 80% of the residents were full time employed and made contributions to the communities in which they live, I myself have raised my kids to know the importance of a quality community as well as education, that is why I served as the LAC VP until I moved out. My oldest is finishing up her PhD @ Uof Iowa,I have a daughter studying to be a Dentist as well as a 10 yr old Son all of which was fortunate enough not to attend public schools. They also know that only one who can judge them is GOD, not these wannabe important folks who need to put someone else down to feel lifted up. That is all I see and here in the news how the Tax Payer is supporting ph residents. I have you know that everyone in my household pay taxes, cell phone, cable, fraud n waste, comed,gas,candy,clothes, peoples gas, food, liquir, employment ect... so why do people think the taxes they pay is supporting the needy. They should take their tax issues to the IRS or the government officials that abuse,steal and mismanage their tax dollars not to the folks that they assume are on the receiving end. By the time yo lil tax dollar gets to the needy it is pennies. If we care soooo much about rights for foreigners (WARS) why not support our own. why not create the tools to motivate citizens to be all they can be. Why not give quality ed to everyone not just the chosen few. Why recreate a system that is designed to fail it's people(jails). If you really want to blame someone blame yourself because as we all know it really does take an entire village to raise a child. The new deal was created to clean up slums guess what their are more slums within the city than there are in PH. There are also greedy companies whom prey on public funds, give shabby performances but all the attention is redirected to the poor man, not the millionaire refusing to reinvest some of it's earnings on the so called fools who made it possible for them to become richer. I have been saying for years when the PLAN end the tenants will still be poor as ever while the RICH man walks away with 3billion+. During my employment @ CHA I seen more non tennants than tenants buying n looking 4 drugs in PH. I said all that to say INVEST IN THE KIDS- THEY ARE ALL OF OUR FUTURE. When you give sub quality performances you get sub quality results. EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD N YOU WILL CREATE A MORE STABLE SOCIETY IN WHICH TO LIVE....
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4 votes
There is lack of communication between CHA and property owner/landlords. CHA does not return phone call or respond to emails. Each time a specialist, or supervisor's direct number is dialed it immeiately goes directly into voice. CHA never returns a call or respond to emails and letter. I have tried to contact them since Decembe of 2011, concerning my tenant. I have left many messages and never got a return call.
1 vote
I work at an organization (Breakthrough) that serves homeless men and women. We use the interim housing model, and have some permanent supportive housing connected to what we do. Some the greatest successes we've seen have not come from within "the system" as it plods along, but from outside it. That is, we have some great volunteers whose daily lives have nothing to do with homelessness, affordable housing, and all those ...more »
I work at an organization (Breakthrough) that serves homeless men and women. We use the interim housing model, and have some permanent supportive housing connected to what we do. Some the greatest successes we've seen have not come from within "the system" as it plods along, but from outside it. That is, we have some great volunteers whose daily lives have nothing to do with homelessness, affordable housing, and all those surrounding topics and issues. But, when they come to volunteer, they come with a lot of good ideas to support the men and women in our programs. How will Plan 2.0 connect with people like this....people who have great ideas, but are entirely outside of the homelessness and affordable housing industry? There should be greater outreach like this incorporated into the plan.
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1 vote
The most important step I see in this new plan is to create a sense of unity and connectivity between the organizations individuals involved. Whatever steps are taken, all parties must be on the same page. We also must first find the true needs of those being served. That is, we have to consult the homeless people that we are attempting to house, to better understand their situations and overall needs.
0 votes
Who else has encountered this "I need to make a home visit" situation while looking for an apartment or home? I actually passed on a fabulous home that I fell in love with because my dignity is not for sale...to anyone, for anything. I was only told about this little criteria after I had gathered credit checks, filled forms, had my agent perform many duties. Are you under the impression that people tend to believe that ...more »
Who else has encountered this "I need to make a home visit" situation while looking for an apartment or home? I actually passed on a fabulous home that I fell in love with because my dignity is not for sale...to anyone, for anything. I was only told about this little criteria after I had gathered credit checks, filled forms, had my agent perform many duties. Are you under the impression that people tend to believe that those who have vouchers are automatically dirty and unruly? Well they do. And, whites particularly believe it about African-American people (just have to say... I don't mince words).
If you go down to the city courts, there are rolls upon rolls of people who are being evicted for those reasons, and guess what? The higher percentage are NOT section 8 participants....imagine that!
I addressed this issue with CHA and I was told by administrative office that CHA absolutely, does not tell landlords to go and check out peoples present residences (and believe me, several landlords/real estate agents have told me so). I then spoke to a friend of mine from high school, who owns several properties. Her words, "Their lying! I've sat in new landlord meetings and they they specifically suggest that we do this) Wow!
I wonder how it is that a government agency would encourage people to clearly violate a federal law? While giving such advice, does CHA make sure to advise landlords that they must follow the same guidelines if they are renting a property in LIncoln Park? Do you think that people who want to come do home visits at your house in Englewood, would request a home visit of a pediatrician and accountant moving into their property in Wicker Park? They wouldn't dare insult such a couple. We need to stop people from placing us in boxes. Stop believeing that because you are of color, this is all you deserve. You don't. Here's the thing...money is green!
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