Henry Horner Redevelopment Facing New Challenges

In 2009, the Shriver Center continued its role as class counsel for the residents of the Henry Horner public housing development located on Chicago’s Near Westside to ensure that the provisions of the consent decree concerning the revitalization of Horner are being implemented. 

The Revitalization of Horner
In 1995, Horner consisted of 1,775 very low-income public housing units located in 8 high-rise and 11 mid-rise buildings.  After revitalization is completed in 2010, Horner will consist of 1,295 units of mixed-income townhome housing.  Of these 1,295 units, 62% will be for public housing families, 10% will be affordable units, and 28% will be market-rate units.   In January 2008, the last of the Horner mid-rises was demolished, and the remaining Horner families moved into their replacement housing.  The revitalization of Horner is entering a new stage now that demolition and relocation has been completed. 

Adapting to Life in a Mixed-Income Community
The main issue now for Horner residents is adapting to a life in the new mixed-income community at Horner.  Market-rate families have complained about the noise and drug use of certain pubic housing residents, about public housing residents not being employed, and about the behavior they exhibit due to lack of regular responsibilities.  Public housing residents respond that they are all viewed through stereotypical eyes by higher-income families, and that they have little opportunity for formal interaction with those who now criticize them.   As a result, the Shriver Center has been involved in two new initiatives at Horner.

The Horner Engagement Program
The Shriver Center and CHA have recently negotiated the content of the Horner Engagement Program.  As agreed, this program requires all non-exempt Horner residents to be engaged in certain activities for 15 hours per week until August 31, 2010 and for 20 hours per week thereafter.  Residents may fulfill this requirement through activities such as full or part-time employment, participating in a transitional job or work-training and counseling program, attending school, a job readiness or a GED or literacy program, volunteerism, child care-taking activities, or domestic violence services counseling.  It is anticipated that the program will be implemented starting November 23, 2009. 

Interaction with the Condominium Board
The one mid-rise building constructed in the revitalized Horner is the 119-unit condominium building located at Washington and Hermitage.   The condominium board oversees operation of the building and has complained about some of the 34 public-housing families who live there.  CHA was planning to cut the $15,000 per year it provides the Board for security, but the Board, citing the conduct of the public housing residents, lobbied CHA into providing the funds.  However, there has been no dialogue between the public housing residents members of the Board.  The Shriver Center has reached an agreement with the Board under which the public housing residents are now permitted to elect two members of their group to act as liaisons between the Board and CHA residents in the building.  In this manner, communication between occupants has been improved, and mutually-beneficial solutions to problems are being adopted.