Politically-connected management company threatens to make grieving and disabled woman homeless

Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign Press Release

June 24th, 2011

What: Press conference by grieving woman facing illegal eviction 

When: Friday June 24th - 1pm 

Where: Lake Michigan Apartments - 4227 S. Oakenwald

When Willett Brown went to her management office to tell them about her mother's funeral arrangements she was offered homelessness instead of condolences. For four years Willett lived with her mother, Stacy Passmore as her live-in caregiver at Lake Michigan Apartments, a CHA senior citizen building managed by politically-connected and landlord Woodlawn Community Development Corporation. While she was well-liked by residents of the building, whom she often helps with errands, groceries, etc., she was never liked by management because she reported them to the department of health for not taking adequate care of a bed bug infestation. When her mother passed on May 25th of this year, management couldn't wait to tell her to get out.

"They told me if I haven't found another place to live by June 25th they will forcefully remove me and all my belongings," explains Ms. Brown, who is disabled and unemployed and has not yet been able to secure find decent and safe housing.

While other caregivers whose parents have passed in Lake Michigan Apartments have been allowed to stay and given an exception to age requirements at the building, management has not only refused to extend Ms. Brown a similar offer but has intimidated and threatened her. This came as little surprise to members of the Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign, Kenwood/Oakland Community Organization (KOCO) and Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP), who Ms. Brown contacted for support. Woodlawn Community Development Corporation, the development arm of The Woodlawn Organization, is run by the powerful ally of ex-Mayor Daley Reverend Leon Finney, who has a long history of mismanagement and resigned last year from the Plan Commission after months of protests by tenants who call him a slumlord. Dr. Finney and WCDC are well known for using their political capital to get away with poor building conditions and threats of retaliation against tenants.

Members of Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign, KOCO and STOP as well as many of her neighbors will be standing with Ms. Brown to fend off the looming eviction and demand the intervention of the City to enforce the Human Right to Housing by pressuring management either to extend Ms. Brown a lease or stop the eviction until she has found decent and safe housing.