Inside Housing - Fall 2009

Eminent-domain Case Goes to the U.S. Supreme Court
In what appears to be the first case of its kind in the country, a municipality has been given the initial green light to take by eminent domain a federally subsidized housing development, in spite of strong opposition from the property owners, the tenants (represented by the Shriver Center), and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Read more.

Management Company Sued For Evicting Victim of Domestic Violence 
In October 2009, the Shriver Center and attorneys from Reed, Smith, Sachnoff and Weaver filed a federal lawsuit against AIMCO and several of its subsidiaries alleging that they violated the Fair Housing Act when they evicted a tenant as a result of domestic violence against her in her AIMCO apartment.  In 2007, Kathy Cleaves Milan was living in the Elmcreek Apartments in Elmhurst, Illinois when her then fiancé tried to kill her and himself after she ended the relationship. Read more.

New Challenges for Henry Horner
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. Read more.

Legislative Update
As we reported in our last issue (Summer 2009), the Shriver Center has been working on the state and federal level to advance housing-related legislation to protect low-income families.  Here’s an update of this work: Read more.