Fed-up CHA tenants push city to rehab squalid apartments

CHA tenants at Harrison Courts Apartments in East Garfield Park are fed up with the squalid conditions in their homes. Leaky toilets, broken stoves, and cockroach infestations have made living conditions unbearable for many residents.

Jimmy Murray, a 37-year-old tenant, said he's had enough of asking the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) to make repairs. The lack of action has led to health problems, including mold and respiratory issues from poor ventilation. "It's like a holding cell at 26th and California," Murray said, comparing his apartment to a jail cell.

Murray is not alone in his frustration. Angel Tingle, another tenant, has been living in the complex since 2009. She lists numerous problems, including mold, lack of heat, and people defecating in hallways. "We don't have the proper security to feel safe and secure in our own homes," Tingle said.

The Chicago Housing Authority acknowledges the need for repairs but says it's limited by funding. A spokesperson for Mayor Johnson declined to comment on what the city can do immediately to aid tenants.

Rev. Robin Hood, a community organizer, is calling for $10 million in repairs and another $10 million for economic development to support businesses in the area. "For several years now, residents in this building have been complaining about the horrific conditions," Hood said. The group plans to deliver a letter listing their demands to Mayor Johnson's office.

The complex is considered an affordable housing development with 122 units, but it has been plagued by issues for years. Residents say they deserve better living conditions and safer homes.

I feel so sorry for these people living in squalid conditions . It's like they're paying to suffer . You know what the problem is? Lack of communication and empathy . The CHA needs to listen more and act faster, not just blame it on funding . We need to put our money where our mouth is . If we want to support affordable housing, we gotta be willing to invest in it . It's time for the community to come together and demand change . And let's not forget, our health and well-being are worth more than a broken stove or leaky toilet . We deserve better, especially from the people who are supposed to protect us .

OMG I'm literally fuming about this! Like, how can you have 122 apartments and still manage to neglect basic repairs? It's not like people are asking for the moon here, just some decent working toilets and stoves, right? And cockroaches?! Ugh, gross . I feel so bad for these tenants, they're basically living in squalor. Like, what even is the point of affordable housing if you can't keep it clean and safe?

I'm all about supporting Rev. Robin Hood's plan, though . $20 million is a huge ask, but it's way better than nothing. And I'm not even going to get started on how inhumane it is that the CHA just gives up because of funding issues. Like, can't we do better?

Ugh man I'm literally so sad for these people living in Harrison Courts Apartments. It's crazy that after all these years, the CHA still can't get their act together to fix the basic problems in these apartments. Leaky toilets, broken stoves... it's like they're stuck in some kind of time loop

And the lack of heat and poor ventilation is seriously putting people's health at risk . I mean, you'd think that with all the money being thrown around for fancy new developments in other parts of town, someone would be able to scrape together a little more funding for places like this.

I love Rev. Robin Hood's idea to deliver a letter to Mayor Johnson's office and demand some real action . $10 million for repairs is not too much to ask, especially considering how long these residents have been suffering. It's about time someone started listening to their pleas .

It's crazy to think that people have been living in these squalid conditions for years and still no real action from the CHA... I mean, $10 million for repairs is a lot of money but it's not like they're asking for the moon . What's even more shocking is that residents are having to deal with health problems because of it, including mold and respiratory issues. It's like the city is just ignoring them. The community organizer is right though, something needs to be done ASAP... how many more people have to suffer before the city listens?

Ugh, can you even imagine living in a place that's more like a dungeon than a home? I mean, cockroaches, mold, broken appliances... it's just crazy! And the fact that the CHA is saying they're limited by funding is just not good enough. Everyone needs a safe and clean place to live!

I'm all for Rev. Robin Hood's plan to deliver demands to Mayor Johnson's office, but I think we need more than just money to fix this problem. We need systemic changes that prioritize affordable housing and community development. It's not just about throwing money at the problem; it's about addressing the root causes of disinvestment in communities like East Garfield Park.

I'm also thinking, what if some of these tenants started a community-led DIY project to fix their own apartments? Like, a tenant-run repair cooperative or something! That could be a great way to build community and take control of their own living spaces. Maybe we can even share our own experiences and tips on how to fix common problems in homes...

I'm not buying the "limited by funding" excuse. Like, come on CHA, how many times do you need to break your promises? These tenants have been living in squalor for years and still, nothing changes. The lack of action is basically a slap in the face. I think Rev. Hood's demands are reasonable – who wouldn't want safe and secure homes? But, seriously, $20 million seems like peanuts compared to what it'll take to fix these apartments. What's going on with all that money being wasted elsewhere?

I'm so worried about these tenants at Harrison Courts Apartments... how can you live in a place that's basically a health hazard? A $10 million repair budget sounds like a drop in the bucket for a complex with 122 units, but it's better than nothing. And Rev. Hood's suggestion of economic development is a great idea - maybe some new businesses could bring in some fresh air and a bit of investment to the area? But seriously, it's not just about throwing money at the problem, we need to address the root causes of these issues... lack of funding for CHA, inefficient bureaucracy... something needs to change here.

Ugh this place is seriously sketchy tenants r goin thru so much 4 broken stoves n leaky toilets its like a health hazard over here cant believeCHA is all like we dont have enuf funds when theres $10m fer economic dev... sounds 2 me like theyre just tryna sweep it under the rug

stats alert! according to chicago data portal, 74% of residents in east garfield park face overcrowding issues, which can lead to squalid conditions like cockroach infestations the average rent for a unit at harrison courts apartments is $1,243/month, but tenants are getting less than that because they're paying 50%+ of their income on rent

Ugh, this just breaks my heart I mean, can you imagine having to live in a place that's literally falling apart? Leaky toilets, broken stoves, cockroach infestations... it's like something out of a bad sitcom but seriously, how do people even survive like this?

And the worst part is, it's not like anyone's really doing anything about it. The city's all like "we're working on it" but in reality, it sounds like they're just stuck . I mean, come on $10 million for repairs? That's not a lot considering how long this has been going on.

It's crazy that people have to deal with health problems and respiratory issues because of these conditions . And can you imagine having to ask the city to fix things over and over again? It's like being stuck in some kind of bureaucratic nightmare .

I don't know, man... sometimes I just feel like we're not doing enough as a society to take care of our most vulnerable people . But hey, at least they're speaking out and demanding change, right? Fingers crossed that something gets done soon

Man... these folks gotta be livin' like that? It's heartbreaking to think about. But you know what's even more sad? The fact that some people are still makin' excuses, like "it's limited by funding". Like, come on! Where's the priority? Fixin' toilets and stoves ain't cheap, but it's basic human decency, right?

It's a hard lesson to learn, but sometimes you gotta take matters into your own hands. I mean, Rev. Hood and his crew are makin' a stand for what they believe in. It's time for the city to listen and take action. We can't keep leavin' people sufferin' like this.

It's funny, when we're not in our comfort zones, we start to realize how much we took for granted. These tenants deserve so much better than a "holding cell" as their home. It's a wake-up call for all of us – even if it's just in our own lives, we gotta make sure our homes are livin' spaces, not places we wanna avoid.

Wow - these tenants are really struggling and it's not fair that they're living in squalid conditions like that. Leaky toilets and cockroach infestations should be a priority for the CHA to fix ASAP . The fact that funding is the excuse is pretty weak, $10 million for repairs isn't going to make much difference if it's not being used . And Rev. Robin Hood's idea of delivering a letter with demands sounds like a good start . These residents deserve better and someone needs to listen to them!

omg u wont believe the state of these apartments https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/loc...ave-made-living-condition-unbearable-20230514 just imagine living in a place with cockroaches and mold, no heat or proper ventilation... it's like a nightmare come true! the city is saying they don't have enough funding but I think that's just an excuse. we need to hold them accountable for providing safe and decent housing for all residents

ugh this is getting old... like, i've heard it all before. the same complaints about leaky toilets and cockroaches in affordable housing developments . can't the chicago housing authority just get their act together? i mean, $10 million for repairs and economic development sounds like a lot of money, but what's taking so long to fix these issues?

and don't even get me started on the lack of security . people shouldn't have to be worried about being defecated in hallways because they can't afford better living conditions. it's just not right.

i'm all for community organizers like rev robin hood trying to make a difference, but sometimes you gotta wonder if these things are just swept under the rug until someone else complains loudly . anyone surprised by this story?

can't believe the state of those apartments it's like, yeah we know funding is limited, but come on! $10 million might seem like a lot, but think about all the lives being affected here... people living in moldy apartments with no heat? that's just not right and what really gets me is when someone says we can't afford it, I'm like, how did we afford to build this place in the first place?! it's time for some serious accountability from the city officials

I'm totally losing faith in the whole 'affordable' label for these apartments . I mean, if you're paying rent that's supposed to be affordable, you shouldn't have to deal with cockroaches and broken toilets . It's like they're just throwing a few Band-Aids at the problem instead of actually fixing it. And $10 million for repairs? That sounds like a drop in the bucket compared to what these tenants are going through .

I'm all for economic development, but can't we prioritize people's basic needs for once? It's not rocket science . These residents deserve better than to feel like they're living in some kind of squalid nightmare. They need a safe and healthy place to call home, and that's not just a matter of charity, it's basic human rights .

omg this is sooo unfair these ppl are literally living in squalid conditions & no one's doing anything about it I mean i know funding is a big issue but 10 million bucks can't even cover the basic repairs needed for these apartments what's going on? these residents deserve way better than being treated like they're living in some kind of prison cell it's not just about the housing authority, it's about the city doing its job to ensure ppl have safe & decent homes

just saw the stats on Harrison Courts Apartments and it's wild. 70% of residents have reported health problems due to poor living conditions . Mold infestations are a huge issue, with 40% of units having some level of mold growth . And you know what the worst part is? It's not just a matter of money, CHA has been receiving over $1.4 million in annual funding since 2015 .

I mean, have you seen the crime stats for this area? Violent crimes are up by 300% compared to the national average . It's no wonder residents feel like they're living in a war zone. We need more than just words from officials, we need action .

I'm also curious about the demographics here. What's the breakdown of income levels among residents? Is it mostly low-income families or a mix of ages and incomes?