Relocated Public Housing Residents Face Little Hope to Return: Work Requirements for Mixed-Income Public Housing Development

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Chicago public housing residents have endured dilapidated housing conditions, relocation rights violations, and fair housing discrimination including resegregation. Now they confront minimum work requirements to be considered eligible to return to public housing units. The Chicago Housing Authority's public housing transformation plan promises to rebuild resource-rich mixed-income communities. However, tenant selection plans may exclude the most vulnerable and abused population from reaping the benefits of the housing authority's plan. The new work requirements as well as other stringent tenant selection criteria may violate fair housing laws.

By William P. Wilen and Rajesh D. Nayak From November - December 2004