Chicago

Residents of Humboldt Park Apartment Building Fight For Affordable Housing

Residents are looking for help from an affordable housing developer

Tenants living in one Humboldt Park apartment building have launched a fight to stop the owner from leaving the federal government's Section 8 housing program.  

Earlier this year, the owner of the building at 2815 West Division told tenants that he planned to end the contract with the Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8.

Several people, many of them elderly, said that they would be forced to move without help from the federal government.  

"We have do to something, not for younger people, for older people who live in this building," said resident Maribett Martinez. 

Multiple residents said they want to keep the address listed as ‘low income,’ so they hope to buy it with help from an affordable housing developer. If their efforts are successful, it would be a first by a tenant group in Illinois.

An attorney for the building’s owner told NBC 5 that the owner is trying to peacefully move everyone to the Chicago Housing Authority's program, and not trying to take anyone’s subsidy.

The vouchers would allow tenants to move anywhere, and would not be tied to the building.

Sonia Valdez, who has a brain tumor, asthma and diabetes, said she is very worried.

"I don't want to move," she said. "I want to stay here."

The tenants plan to hold a rally with local leaders outside the building on Wednesday.

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