[Peace] NCB: Fwd: Gateway Studios and the Housing Crisis in CU - update and next steps

[Rachel Storm]

Please attend the Urbana City Council meeting tonight at 7pm to address the
housing crisis and help support those evicted from Gateway Studios.


*Thanks to your presence at and engagement with council members at the
Champaign Council meeting Tuesday ...*
--> the local media has shone an intense spotlight on Gateway Studios and
the issue of homelessness in our community.
--> some council members and city staff in both Champaign and Urbana are
beginning the discussion of how the cities can play a role to prevent this
in the future.
--> discussion has been started with State Representative Naomi Jakobsson
about reviving a her state bill to force landlords to pay relocation
for tenants of a condemned building.


This problem is not limited to Gateway.  Just today it was announced
that *Autumn
Glen apartments in Rantoul is being condemned because the landlord is behind
on utility payments* that they collected from the residents, but did not pay
to the utility company.  Read the story: http://tinyurl.com/p8fnkl.  Between
condemnations, foreclosures, and job layoffs, we will continue to see more
people forced into homelessness in our community.


You're invited to help take the *NEXT STEPS ...*

*THIS WEEK*:
*
Housing Strategy Session
this Saturday, May 15th at 4 pm* (and every Saturday)
as part of the CU Citizens for Peace and Justice meeting
at the Independent Media Center
in the downtown Urbana post office building at Elm and Broadway (see
map<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=202+S.+Broadway,+Urbana,+IL+61801&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=A>
)
(It's right on the Green Line - 5 minutes from the Quad!)

*Urbana City Council Meeting*
*this Monday, May 18th at 7 pm *(public input starts promptly at 7)
at 400 S. Vine Street at Illinois Street in Urbana (map
it<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=400+S.+Vine+St,+Urbana,+IL+61801&sll=40.111663,-88.207446&sspn=0.009978,0.020771&ie=UTF8&ll=40.111213,-88.206568&spn=0.009978,0.020771&z=16&iwloc=A>
)
City Hall is the white building across Vine Street from the Farmers' Market
Anyone can speak for up to 5 minutes on any topic.
Just sign a form in the back of the room and give it to the clerk.

*Champaign City Council Meeting*
*this Tuesday, May 19th at 7 pm*
City Council Chambers at University and Neil in d'town Champaign
Public input is at the end of the meeting and limited to 5 minutes per
person.


*IN JUNE*:

*Champaign Neighborhood Services Advisory Board*
Thursday, June 4th at 5:30pm in Champaign Council Chamber
Discussion of how to prevent a Gateway situation in the future is being
placed on the agenda.

*People's Potluck*
This regular potluck series is focused on issues of housing, employment,
food, and poverty
Sunday, June 7th from 5:30-8:30pm
Independent Media Center (see location above)

*Meeting with Rep. Naomi Jakobssen*
Thursday, June 25th at noon
to discuss State Legislation and learn from Naomi's efforts in 2008
(limited space, please contact Danielle if you are interesting in attending:
chyn at ojctech.com)


*MORE INFORMATION:
*
Indymedia Story on Gateway and Autumn Glen Condemnations:
http://www.ucimc.org/content/housing-crisis-rantoul-and-champaign

News Gazette story including our push for relocation Assistance Ordinances
in all area cities:
http://www.news-gazette.com/business/housing/2009/05/14/champaign_reviewing_lessons_from_gateway_studios

WILL Story where Neighborhood Service Director Kevin Jackson says  “I know,
going forward, we want to learn from this to see if there is something we
could do from a local policy standpoint to prevent something like this from
happening again.”
http://will.illinois.edu/news/spotstory/gateway-studios-residents-approach-chamapign-council-for-more-help/
*

Draft language for a Relocation Assistance Ordinance for the
cities*(borrowed from state legislation)
"If the City notifies a landlord that a dwelling unit will be condemned or
will be unlawful to occupy due to conditions that violate applicable codes,
statutes or ordinances, the landlord shall pay relocation assistance to
every displaced tenant, unless the condemnation action or no occupancy order
results from a natural disaster or eminent domain. A tenant whose own
illegal conduct caused the need to relocate would not be entitled to
relocation assistance.

The landlord shall pay relocation assistance of $2000 per dwelling unit or 3
times the monthly rent, whichever is greater, plus the deposit, interest and
prepaid rent by certified check within 7 days after the governmental entity
sent the notice to the landlord. If the landlord fails to timely complete
these payments, the City will advance the payments to each displaced tenant
household, and assess a civil penalty of $50 per day against the landlord
for each tenant to whom the City advanced payments until the date the
landlord reimburses the City.

The City may sue to recover the assistance paid, interest, penalties,
attorney's fees, and costs.  Any tenant who brings an action against a
landlord to recover unpaid obligations provided herein shall also be
entitled to recover from the landlord costs and attorney's fees."





-- 
Rachel Storm, Transnational Gender Politics
WIMSE Program Assistant
Forte International Exchange Local Representative
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