SOUTH CHICAGO CONSOLIDATED HOUSING PLAN FOR SENIORS: PROACTIVE STRATEGIES

FOR MAINTAINING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS DURING REDEVELOPMENT

Introduction: This consolidated housing plan aims to retain and advocate for existing senior residents during the Chicago Lakeside Redevelopment (Fig. 1) over the next two decades concerning affordable housing. The impending development will change the community drastically and in complex ways. Many of these could be positive- job creation, housing options, increased tax revenues, and access to new amenities. However, an underlying concern is about the “place/rights/role” of the existing seniors in South Chicago community in the future. With examples in other Chicago neighborhoods of indirect displacement that have accompanied gentrification/redevelopment, South Chicago’s current seniors have a need for a housing plan that proactively secures housing affordability and access, advocates for their participation in economic development, and prepares them for the future. As these efforts are most effective early in the process, this plan is relevant and pressing.

Objectives: In order for South Chicago to provide affordable housing for the current senior residents, this research advises the following objectives: 1) Retain current senior residents at risk for displacement or foreclosure 2) Advocate and organize senior residents during redevelopment process 3) Target senior populations with special housing needs, and 4) Anticipate future housing needs for seniors.

Analysis: Located 10 miles south of the loop (Fig. 2) and originally founded in mid-1800s, South Chicago was annexed by the City of Chicago in 1889. The neighborhood is shaped by and around the Chicago Skyway, the Calumet River, an elevated Metra line, Lake Shore Drive, and most notably the abandoned US Steel site (Fig. 3). It is a predominantly African-American (73%) community where the second dominant race goes to the white people (19%) (Fig. 4). Although this community suffers from a lower income than the city of Chicago (ACS 2008-2012), but the senior’s situation is not that bad most likely due to the fact that they used to hold jobs at US Steel and now are benefiting from their retirement checks. That is why the percentage of owner/renter occupied housing units by seniors equals the same rate for the City of Chicago (Fig. 5). Thus, even though the median household income in South Chicago is 60% of the median household income of the city of Chicago (ASC 2008-2012), their seniors are experiencing similar situations. Most of the seniors are living in census tract 4605, owning their houses rather than renting (Fig. 6). But, there still are several issues regarding affordability of houses particularly when it comes to the elderly population with disability, the poor, and those paying rent. In South Chicago the rents are approximately 66% more than the average fair market rent in the Chicago local area (South Chicago Ymca Elderly Housing). The senior public houses suffer from living with mice, bedbugs, and cockroaches. Additionally, This is a growing population; Currently, they are consisting approximately 15% of the population (ACS 2008-2012) and the population projection pyramid illustrates that this category is going to grow in the next 20 years (Fig. 7). So, the community should get prepared to cater to this group of people and be well-equipped to host them.

SUE TAGHABON stagha2@uic.edu (312)912-1823 500 E 33rd St., Apt. 1600, Chicago, IL 60616

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/sue-taghabon/66/307/4a2

Source: http://yochicago.com/mccaffery-opening-on-site-marketing-center-for-us-steel- redevelopment-this-fall/16340/

Figure 1: Chicago Lakeside Development

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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US-IL-Chicago-CA46.svg & Google Map

Figure 2: South Chicago location

Source: Google Map 2014

Figure 3: Major physical features

Source: ACS 2008-2012

Figure 4: Race Composition

The disability status by age indicates that 14% of the disable individuals goes to the senior category (Fig. 8) among which 2% are living below the poverty line (Fig. 9). This is the most-in-need target population for affordable housing. There should be housing units available for them that supports their special needs. Such housing units would better be close to health care centers or hospitals as this population most likely need it. 1% of the elderly population with no disability are suffering from living below the poverty line consisting the second-in-need population for affordable housing. They need housing units that are safe –as they may live alone-, accessible –as they may have limited ability to walk or move around-, and easy to be reached via public transportation –as they may not be able to drive any more.

Strategies: Following are the strategies for maintaining and increasing access to affordable housing for the most pressings groups of seniors: 1) Offering incentives to attract private funds for upgrading existing houses to meet disable senior’s needs 2) Providing funding to retrofit senior houses 3) Providing vouchers to reduce pressure on the rent-burdened 4) Utilizing Planned Unit Development review to incentivize developers to select sites near health centers and public transit that meet senior’s need.

Conclusion: The Lakeside Development has been identified as a threat to South Chicago as it has the potential to permanently change the local conditions affecting housing prices, property prices, commercial establishments, and overall the general economy of the community area. This research believes by implementing strategies focused on 1) the stabilization of the current housing stock and population, 2) the organization of the seniors and stakeholders into an affordable housing coalition to push for a community benefits agreement, 3) the targeting of priority seniors, and 4) the anticipation of the future financial and physical housing needs of residents, the current South Chicago seniors will be included in the new economy Chicago Lakeside Development will bring to the community.

References:

• American Community Survey 2008-2012- American Fact Finder- http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml- Accessed 3/15/2014 • Census 2010- http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml- Accessed 3/20/2014 • South Chicago Ymca Elderly Housing- http://section-8-housing.findthebest.com/l/5957/South-Chicago-Ymca-Elderly-Housing- Accessed 3/21/2014

Figure 5: Owner/renter occupied housing units

Source: Census 2010

Figure 7: Projected population pyramid, 2030

Source: Census 2010

Figure 6: Renter/owner householders aged 65 and over by Census tract

Source: Census 2010

Figure 8: Disability by Age

Source: ASC 2008-2012

Source: ASC 2008-2012

Figure 9: Age by Disability by Poverty Status

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SUE TAGHABON stagha2@uic.edu (312)912-1823 500 E 33rd St., Apt. 1600, Chicago, IL 60616

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/sue-taghabon/66/307/4a2