CHA: Relocation vs. Survival

      When I was a young girl I lived in the projects (CHA) on the south side near Trumbull Park. I remember that all of the low and high-rises were built exactly the same. No matter what friend's house I would go to nothing was different. It's a little strange to think that ALL of the apartments had the same design. However, this reminds me what we learned in terms of Production of Space. By making standardized productions or homogeneous structures it creates more exchange and efficiency. For example, it is easier to tear down and rebuild these types of buildings than to remove a building that has history or real significance to its name.

We had a large street that divided the apartments on one side from the other. This street was not used for our usual transportation. It was a random street that had an unknown purpose. It only divided one side from the other. The front doors of the apartments lead to this street while the back doors would actually lead to "society." I never understood why they were built this way. I guess it was to keep the true faces of the project's culture hidden so that those who would drive past the neighborhood wouldn't see. As a young girl I used to think that the road was there to allow the kids to play, like a playground, or for that yearning feeling of community. The only cars that I remember passing on the street were the police cars. The police cars would make their rounds from time to time in order to regulate the neighborhood. Before I left Trumbull Park at age six to my boarding school in aurora my mother was debating on one of the most important decision of her and our families life. This is all new to my ears and I hope you enjoy our story and experience living through Chicago Housing Authority. 

Our story:

 My mother, like most residents living in our neighborhood at the time, was a young black single parent. We were living off of state money to get by. Such as: welfare and food stamps. She was working two jobs and had four children to take care of. At this time our rent was only $65. (I know crazy!) However, when my mother found a better paying job at Sprint, the state took away most of her aid she was receiving. Therefore, our rent went from $65 to nearly $800 a month.  We weren't given a letter in which we were told to move out; but they might as well had! You would think that once these single parent household received a good paying job the CHA and state would allow them a grace period. This grace period would provide them a chance to save their new allowance in order to transition to better housing and living conditions. My mother left our apartment because it was cheaper to live somewhere else then in this low income housing. "Make Sense?" 

My Mother's Thoughts:

 "When people are told that their housing locations are being torn down they help you find a place to live and help you pay your rent. However, there are restrictions on where you could go for new low-income housing and you must find it yourself.  This process is not easy at all. You must file paperwork and be put on a list for housing. If you do not fit the requirements or are placed low on the list you may never be accepted for this specific type of housing. For those who are so called lucky and are accepted for new housing, still find themselves in a very difficult position. Not only are they relocated but they were most likely placed in a new suburb CHA housing. I definitely agree with the IDEA of mixing different social classes into a neighborhood. I believe the diversity is necessary and should be demanded. However, the neighborhood must be suitable for each and every class. The relocated residents can't afford to live in these suburbs. They now have housing, but lack income and transportation. Both of these are essential for creating any type of comfortable living experiences. To find a job you need transportation and most of the residents don't own a car and rely heavily on public transit. Public transit is not very common in the suburbs. Without transportation the new residents can't find jobs, and without a job they have little or no income for basic necessities. These people are put in a place where it is impossible to survive!"