United We Stand

Rise Magazine - By and For Parents in the Child Welfare System

United We Stand
A newspaper by Chicago public housing residents helps reverse unpopular policies.

In 2010, the Chicago Housing Authority tried to require residents to turn over their kids’ report cards as a condition of tenancy, saying they were doing it to assess for “potential need for services.” Then in 2011, the Chicago Housing Authority wanted to require that all residents, including thousands of seniors, undergo drug testing as a way to fight crime in public housing. If anyone in the household tested positive, the Housing Authority could begin eviction proceedings. Luckily, residents of public housing in Chicago have a voice through Residents' Journal, a publication written by and for residents of the Chicago Housing Authority as well as low-income residents of the city of Chicago at large. Ultimately, residents were successful in having those policies thrown out.