[remote or in person] Board of Commissioners

Chicago Housing Authority

Development

Housing

Tuesday, May 21, 2024
8:30 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. CDT

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60 E Van Buren St Chicago, IL 60605 (Directions)

CHA Corporate Offices, 7th Floor

This is an assignment to cover a series of back-to-back meetings of the Chicago Housing Authority board.

You have the option of attending this meeting remotely or in person.

If you attend in person, you may need to reserve a spot in advance more details here. Please indicate that you attended in person and an hour will be added to your total assignment pay.

If you document the meeting remotely, it will be live-streamed on the Chicago Housing Authority’s Youtube channel at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O-mIEN7ppk

Meeting schedule (additional details here) & here

8:30 a.m.: Board Meeting Public Hearing
9:00 a.m.: Finance & Audit Committee (Closed Session) / Finance & Audit Committee (Business Session and Public Hearing)
9:20 a.m.: Real Estate Operations Development Committee (Business Session and Public Hearing)
9:30 a.m.: Tenant Services Committee (Business Session and Public Hearing)
9:40 a.m.: Board Meeting Business Session (Closed Session)

You’re encouraged to stick around through closed session as you are able because public bodies are technically supposed to return to open session in order to officially end the meeting and/or officially vote on any decisions, and this time will be added to your total assignment hours. The meeting duration varies but usually wraps up between noon and 1 p.m.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Rachel Lazar

A main goal of CHA in the coming year is to have a staffer answer the main phone line.

View notes

Live reporting by Briana Madden

A main goal of CHA in the coming year is to have a staffer answer the main phone line.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_

Hello Chicago! I’ll be live-tweeting today’s Chicago Housing Authority Board Meeting for #CHIdocumenters
@CHIdocumenters

08:24 AM May 21, 2024 CDT

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 2/27

Today's agenda and an overview of the Committee are pictured here:

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 3/27

The meeting is called to order at 8:55am.
The livestream can be accessed at

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 4/27

There is a quorum present. The agenda is approved. Today's centering thought is "working together."

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 5/27

CEO Tracey Scott gives a 2023 Impact Report, highlighting CHA's achievements from last year.
These included building over 1000 new units and renovating CHA owned and operated apartments.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 6/27

Last summer CHA employed 2.3k youth, and served 170k meals to senior adults.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 7/27

More than 100k people are housed through CHA's Housing Choice Vouchers program.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 8/27

The goals for CHA in 2024 are "simple but not easy." They include having a staff member to answer the main phone line, and a website redesign. The Restore Home program is on track to be completed by 2025.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 9/27

The public comment portion of the meeting begins, with each commenter being allotted 2 minutes.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 10/27

The first commenter, Thompson, raises a few concerns. They say more staff are needed at Lake Park Place and that the CHA pet policy needs revisiting.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 11/27

Williams is the next speaker, and they question the renovations at Altgeld property. "We haven't had anything done in that building since 2004," they said.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 12/27

Third to speak is a person named Heron, an Altgeld Garden resident, who asks, "What's the holdup on the $5k... for the grocery store...?"
They say it's been over 4 decades since the area had fresh produce available.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 13/27

CEO Scott asks the previous 2 speakers to talk with the COO on the issues they presented at Altgeld. They said they have been working with the city on getting a grocery store in the neighborhood. "We certainly welcome your ideas," said Scott.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 14/27

The fourth speaker, Jerry, complains that rent keeps rising but people's incomes can't keep up. COO Eric Garrett says CHA residents pay the highest of either 30% of their adjusted annual income, 10% of their income or the lowest rent for the unit.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 15/27

"None of our families should be impacted by rising market prices," says Garrett.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 16/27

A Commissioner and CHA resident says that what the Committee says and the reality in the CHA buildings are 2 different things: "Half the staff here knows what's going on... When my people hurt, I hurt."

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 17/27

The fifth speaker, Guzman, has lived in Lathrop Homes for over 30 years. They say the conditions have deteriorated and the price of living has increased, almost in tears while speaking.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 18/27

Jackson, the sixth speaker, thanks the CHA for an award they received for classes taken through their programs.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 19/27

The seventh speaker is named Randall, and they cite a drug problem in their building. CEO Scott asks them to speak with their security representative, and says CHA has been working with CPD on this problem in many of the buildings.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 20/27

There is more dialogue between Randall and Scott, but Randall's side is not audible. Randall is a resident at Minnie Riperton.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 21/27

Francine Washington, the same Commissioner that spoke previously, says "That ain't the kind of help that we need."

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 22/27

The eighth speaker is a resident at Spurlock. They say the building's HVAC system is dangerous.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 23/27

Sullivan, the ninth speaker, is a member of the Altgeld Gardens Association. They spoke about their work in the community, and ask for CHA support.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 24/27

Scott is the tenth speaker, and they object to the CHA's dictation of how senior adults are allowed to spend their money.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 25/27

A CHA representative says the vending machine money that is identified is considered federal money and has to follow certain rules.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 26/27

The final speaker, Harris, says there is a lack of opportunities with the general contractor pool program. They say the assignments are not distributed fully.

Bri Madden @bri_madden_ 27/27

The meeting moves into a closed session at 10:00am.

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Attachments

Youtube Livestream/Recording

By India Daniels 5/21/2024

Meeting details

By India Daniels 5/21/2024

Agency Information

Chicago Housing Authority

See Documenters reporting

The CHA Board of Commissioners is the governing body that determines policies and resolutions of CHA. The Board approves decisions that chart the direction of current and future programs and authorizes the actions of the Chief Executive Officer and his or her designees. The 10-member Board of Commissioners is confirmed by the Chicago City Council for staggered five-year terms. All commissioners must be residents of Chicago, and at least three commissioners must be CHA residents. Employees of CHA are not authorized to serve as commissioners.

Remote meetings are live-streamed on the Chicago Housing Authority’s Youtube channel. The video may not appear until at or a few minutes after the scheduled start time. If you do not see if right away, wait a few moments and try refreshing your Internet tab.