Fighting Evictions in Rogers Park

Sign the petition to help stop the eviction!

Carol Vialdores has lived in the same building in Rogers Park for 16 years.  She is the mother of 5, and her three youngest still live with her, all attending, as did their older siblings, the local community schools.  She is also helping to lead a tenant organizing campaign that is building off the momentum of a successful anti-eviction campaign for her friend and neighbor, Erica Bledsoe. 

Carol was accused by the management company Northpoint, subsidiary of housing conglomerate Aimco, of attempting to assault someone in management who was in her apartment.  Carol contends that only words were exchanged.  The father of her children was visiting and hopes to have the chance to testify that the allegation is false.  Interestingly, if there was an attempted assault, Northpoint did not call the police or file a criminal complaint.  Northpoint also contends (possibly hoping weaken his position as a witness) that the father of Carol's kids was living at the apartment, though he was not on the lease, though he had not lived with the family for a long time.

Northpoint has refused to accept rent and given notices to folks who've been the most aggressive about submitting work orders for things like rodents or lack of heat.  What is absolutely clear is that a number of people have been pressured into signing away rights and agreeing to make payments for repairs that may not have been theri responsiblilty to pay, at the threat of eviction or losing apartments for which they've long been on waiting lists.  What is all the more clear is that the privatization of public housing has only added to the ease (and zeal) with which families are being evicted.  Sadly, The Department of Housing and Urban Development's plan, strongly supported in Chicago, is to complete the privatization of all public housing.  What this also means, as an example, is that when Northpoint contract with HUD is up in 2010, they have the choice to not keep this as subsidized housing.  The existence of a tenant's organization means that HUD and management are required to negotiate with tenants before this can happen. 

What Carol and the tenants know--what we all know--is that the power to prevail on Northpoint or HUD or the courts or housing policy will come from the people organizing to defend their rights to housing in the context of strong, sustainable communities.

That is what Carol is fighting for, in addition to her own home, and the stability that comes from children being able to stay in the same school, surrounded by friends people they know.

Sign the petition,  join the campaign!