HOUSING
"Break open the hopeless cycles of prejudices that linger on despite enormous progress toward effective equality in education and employment; the cycles of despair in which are imprisoned all those that lack decent food, shelter or employment...." Pope John Paul II, from an address given in a visit to the U.S. 1978
Access to decent housing is a basic human right, necessary for maintaining human dignity. The Church must work for fair housing practices and advocate for government and private programs which provide for affordable housing. Racial discrimination in obtaining housing still exists in some areas of our diocese.
HOPE Fair Housing Center reported 175 complaints from African Americans and 37 from Latinos between August 1996 and September 1997. Affordable housing is especially a problem in DuPage county and sometimes that lack of affordable housing is directly tied to intentionally or de-facto racially discriminatory zoning laws, e.g. laws which increase minimum square footage requirements in new multifamily units which by result make it difficult for the economically disadvantaged.
A related concern for our fast growing parishes in Will and DuPage Counties is the fact that some of that growth is due to “White flight” from Chicago Suburbs. According to The Chicago Reporter, December 1997, by 2002, nearly 140,000 whites will have left suburban Cook County since the 1990 census. At the same time, the white population in the five collar counties will have grown by 20 percent or about 375,000 people. The black population, however, will increase by only 50,000.
At the same time we want to recognize that some areas of our diocese have shown significant improvement, with special recognition to the City of Joliet in its efforts to provide fair access to affordable housing. East Joliet is seeing a definite renewal. We affirm such efforts and the work of other organizations such as Kankakee Neighborhood Housing Services, Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the diocese, Catholic Charities partnership with parishes in Transitional Housing Programs, and HOPE Fair Housing in DuPage County.
Ideas for Action and Service
• Become involved in legislative advocacy efforts for fair and affordable housing.
• Contribute financially and and volunteer with Kankakee Neighborhood Housing Services, Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the diocese, Transitional Housing Programs, HOPE Fair Housing in DuPage County, Catholic Construction Corps – National Disaster Unit, and other similar organizations.
