Aided by Rep. Lewis, 2 sides to meet in housing flap

By ERIC STIRGUS [1]
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/25/08

U.S. Rep. John Lewis is hoping to play mediator between the Atlanta Housing Authority officials and tenant leaders.

The Atlanta Democrat is scheduled to meet with the two groups today to resolve a dispute over the authority's redevelopment plan and whether it is unfairly evicting tenants.

"We just want to get them all together and see if we can get a meeting of the minds," Lewis, a Democrat whose district includes the developments, said in a telephone interview.

The agency must get federal approval to demolish any housing developments.

Housing Authority officials want to tear down a dozen apartment complexes it says are old, in poor condition, and in some cases, crime-ridden. The authority has received national praise for similar redevelopment efforts since the 1990s, but critics are worried the latest plan will push tenants into communities where access to public transportation, health care and other services is more difficult.

Lewis said he visited two Housing Authority developments Thursday to listen to tenant complaints about the redevelopment plan and evictions.

The authority requires all tenants ages 61 and younger to work at least 30 hours a week or attend school through its Catalyst Program. Those who fail to demonstrate they are looking for a job, including those who have lost one, face eviction.

Tenant leaders say some residents are having trouble finding work because of the current economy.

"They're putting people out because they made promises to sell this land," said Bowen Homes resident association president Shirley Hightower. "It's not that [tenants] don't want to work. They can't find work."

Housing Authority spokesman Rick White said claims of widespread evictions are "categorically not true."

He argued the agency's plan is an effort to improve public housing in Atlanta.

"The housing projects have served their purpose, and as a public policy matter, public housing is the wrong social design," said White. "Today, the housing projects only serve to isolate families from mainstream America."

White said the authority welcomed a meeting with Lewis.

Lewis said he understood the tenant concerns.

"It's a difficult time, even for people who are working," he said. "People cannot pay their rent and people cannot pay their mortgage. People are troubled. They don't want to be relocated."