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Protestant Justice Action |
"Public Protestants" deplore
public housing in Chicago
Press release from Protestant Justice Action, dated
September 17, 2001, posted here on 9-20-01
Representatives of a national group of religious leaders concerned about
public issues criticized severely Chicago's public housing authorities.
The group, meeting in Chicago at Hyde Park's University Church September
7-9, investigated and toured Chicago's public housing and expressed
their Christian concern for Chicago's poor whom they find are being
ignored and left homeless by officials.
Protestant Justice Action (PJA), a network of
Protestant public activists from seven mainline denominations was
shocked to learn of the present policies of the Chicago Housing
Authority (CHA) which destroys problem buildings, but offers far too few
alternative shelters. Thousands are left to wander. Women are forced to
move from place to place, ever enrolling their children in strange new
schools.
Reporting to the representative assembly were Daniel
Romero, Community Renewal Society; May Lord, member of PJA and the
Coalition to Protect Public Housing., and Don Coleman, co-pastor of
University Church. "While we understand and agree that many units
of public housing must be demolished or rehabilitated, we are appalled
that no previous provision has been made to provide prompt and
sufficient replacement housing for the thousands of people who are
displaced by the current plan," according to David Nickell of
Oklahoma City, a Disciples of Christ elder who chaired the meeting.
Since January 2001, thousands of units have been
demolished, and many more are scheduled to close. As a result, families
are moved from place to place, some as many as three and four times.
"We know that each time children change schools, they lose 4-6
months of academic development," explained Romero. "Yet no
clear housing or school policy exists to ease the transition of
displaced students. There is no transportation assistance to help
families keep children in their former CHA-area schools."
While 1,662 CHA families are currently waiting for
Section-8 housing, dozens of upscale rehabilitated apartments have been
sitting vacant for more than 8 months, as if being held for middle class
purchasers. Necessary support services are weak and inadequate.
PJA delegates agreed that many of their home cities
share Chicago's dilemma, due to the 1996 federal legislation requiring
that decaying public housing units be demolished. The federal
legislation failed to include sufficient provision for replacement.
Contractors and developers have benefited from this legislation, while
low-income residents have been deprived of a decent place to live.
"This is a moral issue," said Rev. Coleman. "It is unjust
that families are losing their homes with little prospect that they will
be able to return to their neighborhoods or find other appropriate
housing. We call on all people of faith to insist that their city
governments provide decent affordable housing for displaced individuals
and families. This must happen before any more buildings are
demolished."
Protestant Justice Action is a coalition of the
following denominationally-based public action organizations: the
Witherspoon Society (Presbyterian Church), the Baptist Peace Fellowship
of North America, Christians for Justice Action (United Church of
Christ), Disciples Justice Action Network (Disciples of Christ),
Episcopal Peace Fellowship (Episcopal Church, USA), Lutheran Human
Relations Association (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and the
Methodist Federation for Social Action (United Methodist Church).
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For more information, contact May Sweet Lord, at
773-285-3249, fax 773-285-2748, or e-mail maylord@prodigy.net. |
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created this new blog
for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship and activism,
Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the voices of
feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy, students,
exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers and
devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God in
whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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Witherspoon’s Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, Witherspoon’s
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views, or initiate
a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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John Harris’ Summit to Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical reflections on
everything between summit to shore, including kayaking, climbing,
religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology, politics, culture,
travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New York City and the
Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive New York City
Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the Witherspoon
board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian Church in
Flushing, NY. |
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John
Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently serving as
pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton, Tenn., blogs
about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized and
disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and lightening
up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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Plan now for our 2010 Ghost Ranch
Seminar!
GHOST RANCH SEMINAR
July 26-August 1, 2010
WE’RE
ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
CONFRONTING THE STRUCTURES OF INJUSTICE |
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