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CHA Home
Frequently Asked Questions on Relocation
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The following list contains answers to some of the most frequently asked
questions about CHA policy and issues associated with the Plan for Transformation.
Many of these answers include links to portions of our web site where additional
information can be found.
Questions About Getting Involved With The CHA
The Plan for Transformation Plan is a blueprint for the comprehensive renewal of public housing in Chicago. More than 25,000 units of housing will be redeveloped or rehabilitated under the Plan, which also ushered in a variety of programs that help lower-income residents blend into the social and economic fabric of the surrounding city. Adopted in February, 2000, the Plan seeks to institute dramatic changes to Chicago’s public housing over a ten-year period. The creation of mixed-income communities through redevelopment or rehabilitation of existing CHA property is an important component to deconcentrating poverty as ascribed by the Plan. The CHA achieved great results toward fulfilling its promise to provide new public housing units in mixed-income communities during FY2006 by completing more than 62 percent of the units in the seventh year of the plan.
A complete copy of the 2006 Annual Report is available in the Plan
for Transformation section.
Top The CHA has announced plans to convert many of its family properties into mixed-income communities, but construction at many of these sites has yet to occur. Why? One of the primary objectives of the CHA’s Plan for Transformation is to replace decaying gallery-style high-rise buildings with new, mixed-income communities. A mixed-income community generally includes one-third public housing, one-third affordable housing and one-third market-rate homes. This process is what we refer to as “redevelopment,” and it can be quite lengthy because of the multiple pre-construction and construction components involved. Before redevelopment can begin, the CHA must complete the formidable task of demolishing the high-rises that occupy the sites of our future mixed-income communities. Plagued by years of neglect and deterioration, these buildings are being demolished under federal mandate. As part of this process, the CHA must also redress any site environmental issues. The CHA must also administer the elaborate redevelopment process, which begins with a planning stage. During this phase, the CHA, resident leaders, city planners and other participants with a stake in the fate of a redevelopment site form a Working Group to determine general principles of design and architecture that the new mixed-income site will embody. In the ensuing pre-development stage, city departments oversee an extensive
program to modernize electrical systems, sewer lines, streets and other infrastructure
systems that will serve the new community. Meanwhile, the CHA, the City of
Chicago and developers marshal funding for the project, by tapping a complex
blend of public and private investment. By the time construction begins, nearly
a third of the work associated with a redevelopment project has already taken
place.
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Many residents and advocates have expressed concerns that the Plan for Transformation
caters to private developers by affording them access and control of the CHA’s
valuable land. Under the Plan, the CHA committed to rebuild mixed-income housing
on the footprint of former public housing developments. To uphold that commitment,
developers must be able to build on existing CHA land. However, the CHA is
not relinquishing full control of public housing land to developers. Instead,
it is preserving its interest in these sites through several means, including
leasing the land to developers.
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What is the relocation process? Under the Plan for Transformation, the CHA is redeveloping or rehabilitating 25,000 units of housing. All residents who legally inhabited a CHA unit on October 1,1999 are afforded a right to return to public housing in the wake of redevelopment or rehabilitation. In the interim, all residents are required to move at least once to accommodate construction activity. Those who choose to exercise their right to return can relocate temporarily to the private market, using a Housing Choice Voucher, formerly known as Section 8, or to another unit within the public housing system. Residents can also move to the private market permanently, using a Housing Choice Voucher. The complexity of the relocation process may vary from site to site. Residents at our senior buildings, scattered site properties and at some of our family developments, will simply move to another rehabilitated unit. For residents at some family properties designated for redevelopment the relocation process is more extensive. At these sites, the CHA is closing and demolishing an entire antiquated high-rise development -- as ordered by the federal government -- and residents are required to move from these premises while construction takes place. Residents who wish to return to public housing following site renewal are offered units through a lottery system called the Housing Offer Process. The CHA has created a comprehensive infrastructure of counseling and support
systems to guide residents through the relocation process. These systems include
ongoing education regarding the mechanics of the relocation process, professional
moving services which provide the actual physical relocation, and assistance
in identifying safe, decent apartments in viable neighborhoods for residents
that choose to rent a private unit. For more information on the CHA’s
relocation system, see our Relocation Section.
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Through the end of 2002, more than 2,400 residents have relocated.
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Through the end of 2002, approximately 90 percent of residents exercised their
right to return and opted to move to temporary housing, while about 10 percent
relocated permanently to the private market using a Housing Choice Voucher.
Of those who relocated temporarily, approximately 53 percent moved to public
housing while awaiting their return to a new or rehabbed unit. Slightly fewer
than 47 percent relocated to the private market using a Housing Choice Voucher.
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To check your current status in the relocation system, please contact CHA’s Relocation Department
and ask for the Relocation Manager for your location.
Top As the CHA undergoes transformation, more than 6,000 families will be temporarily relocated. Concerns about losing families during this process have been raised on numerous occasions. There are a number of strategies that seek to prevent this from occurring:
As CHA residents move into new mixed-income communities they will experience
some changes in housing rules. Eligibility requirements called “site
specific criteria” will be established at each site. These criteria are
simply standards, rules, or tests which property managers will use to assess
any resident (public housing, affordable, or market rate) interested in moving
into the new development. These criteria often include a review of the applicants’ credit
history and a criminal background check, drug testing, housekeeping or home
visits, and an evaluation of a resident’s employment and economic self-sufficiency
record. These criteria build upon the CHA’s existing admission and occupancy
policies; they do not replace them. Site-specific criteria may also vary from
one new community to another. Many property management offices will choose
to adopt a site-specific criteria such as the one mentioned above to ensure
a thriving mixed-income community.
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The CHA is committed to ending the isolation of public housing residents through the Plan for Transformation. Inherent in this effort is an attempt to de-concentrate poverty by supporting residents as they move from public housing to their new homes. All residents who move out of public housing may choose to move to an opportunity area (an area where less than 24.9% of the population is below poverty level). Additionally, families in the Housing Choice Voucher program who are making a second move will receive counseling and support services to assist them in moving to an opportunity area. Other efforts to increase the distribution of vouchers to opportunity areas include new contracts with relocation counselors that provide them with additional financial incentives for moving families to these economically rich areas; increased landlord outreach; and the future creation of satellite offices to support landlords and voucher holders in various neighborhoods throughout Chicago. The CHA recognizes that there is much to be done to end the isolation of public
housing residents and as we move forward we will continue to pilot new programs
and services to promote the de-concentration of the poor.
Top Concerns have been raised regarding the Chicago rental market’s ability to accommodate the number of families that will move into the private market using Housing Choice Vouchers. As one safety measure, HUD conducts a regional rental market study annually or as needed to determine whether there is sufficient rental housing or whether demolition should be slowed down. The first two studies completed in this area illustrated that there was limited affordable rental housing but that the numbers were not low enough to warrant a slow down of resident relocation. This has been born out in the results of families searching for rental housing
with a Housing Choice Voucher. In 2002, 75 percent of our families found a
rental unit within 90 days after receiving their voucher. Additionally, far
fewer families have moved to the private market than originally anticipated.
Initial projections had 1,200 families moving to the private market each year.
In actuality, only 400 families have moved each year with the voucher.
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The process of relocation does not increase the risk of homelessness for CHA families. The CHA and resident leaders have agreed to a Relocation Rights Contract, which grants residents a legally enforceable right to return to public housing after redevelopment is completed and also states that the CHA will provide temporary housing to residents during redevelopment. In fact, all families have a replacement housing unit identified for them three months prior to their building closing. This ensures, that even if a family has not found a private market rental unit, or is ineligible for a voucher, the family will have a place to go when their building closes. Another concern is that non-lease holders who inhabited our buildings illegally
will or have become homeless as a result of building closures and demolitions.
The CHA works in conjunction with the Chicago Department of Human Services
to identify non-leaseholders in buildings scheduled for closure and directs
them to a variety of supportive services to assist them in finding housing.
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The CHA has received numerous comments regarding the perceived number of CHA residents who have relocated to the South Suburbs. In actuality, very few CHA residents have relocated outside of the city of Chicago. During the first two years of the Plan for Transformation, only approximately 30 families moved to the South Suburbs using a Housing Choice Voucher provided by the CHA. It should be stressed that families are moving with Housing “Choice” Vouchers and that ultimately, it is their choice as to where they want to live. Both HUD and the residents believe “choice” in determining where to live is a fundamental right provided to each participant of the voucher program. HUD regulations explicitly prohibit public housing authorities from directly or indirectly reducing families’ opportunity to select among available units. Relocating families follow similar patterns as other voucher holders. Most
families using a Housing Choice Voucher, whether they are from the general
list or are CHA relocating families, choose to stay in or around the community
where they previously lived have family, friends, and connections to that community.
Most CHA relocating families plan to return to their developments after revitalization
has been completed.
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How do I get into public housing? As of March 15, 2001, the wait lists for all CHA’s family developments
were closed. We are not taking anyone from the wait list for any of the family
properties to allow for current residents to relocate within our inventory
if they choose. However, the CHA is accepting applications for some of our
senior (50 years and older) buildings. See Applying for Housing for
more information.
Top How do I get on the waiting list for a Housing Choice Voucher? The CHA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly called Section 8)
is administered by CHAC, Inc,
a privately owned company. From April 17 through May 15, 2008, the CHA will open registration for the Chicago Housing Choice Voucher Program waitlist lottery. For more information call 312-786-3676 or to register online, visit
www.rentbetter.org
. For general questions about the Housing Choice Voucher Program, or
to check the waiting list status, contact CHAC,
60 E. Van Buren, Chicago, IL 60605. (312)786-3676 . Office Hours: 8am-5pm (By
appointment).
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The Department of Housing and Urban Development has the most comprehensive list of affordable and subsidized housing agencies throughout the United States. Visit HUD’s web site to locate housing agencies offering subsidized housing
opportunities.
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How can I do business with the CHA? The CHA has multiple procurement and contract opportunities in accordance
with federal regulations. For more information visit Doing
Business With CHA.
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Multiple opportunities to sponsor CHA initiatives exists for individuals or corporations who would like to make a difference in the lives of CHA residents to call the CHA’s Department of Resource Development at (312)742-8551 or e-mail at Revdev@thecha.org. The CHA partners with businesses and industries serving the Chicago metropolitan
area. CHA’s Corporate Partners encourage direct social investment, community
involvement, and corporate ownership to transform distressed public housing
developments into thriving neighborhoods. Leo Burnett (www.leoburnett.com),
Chicago Bears (www.chicagobears.com),
Chicago White Sox (www.chisox.com),
Jewel Osco (www.jewelosco.com),
Commonwealth Edison (www.exeloncorp.com),
Bank One (www.bankone.com),
Toys R Us, Midway Movers, Walgreens, Sprint, etc, are some of the CHA’s
past and current corporate sponsors.
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Whether they are building playgrounds for children who previously had no place
to play or providing companionship and assistance to senior residents as part
of the CHA’s senior programs, volunteers are always needed. Call the
CHA’s Department of Resource Development at (312)742-8551 or e-mail us
at Revdev@thecha.org if you want to
help.
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