Jane Ramsey, president of the Chicago-based Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, gave a lecture in order to educate attendants on the myths and realities for homelessness and poverty.

Ramsey discussed the many problems with public housing and homelessness in the Chicago area. She explained that prior to 1996, the federal housing law stated that for every public housing unit that was demolished, there had to be another in its place. However, after 1996, Congress eliminated the One-for-One Replacement for Public Housing law. Ramsey said this allowed Chicago Housing Authority to misplace thousands of low-income residences.

Chicago Housing Authority demolished around 38,000 units of public housing in the early 2000s without providing alternative housing for the residents. Ramsey then explained that CHA did not keep track of the residents of these tenements. The threats of a possible lawsuit lead CHA to eventually track the misplaced residents.

Ramsey told many stories about families in the past decade moving several times in order to search for adequate housing. In being misplaced, families face risks such as homelessness and the threats of gang violence.

“The public does not get that public housing represents communities,” Ramsey said.

While the public may have a negative view on public housing, the residents  are like other citizens in the sense that they are looking for financial stability, good schooling districts, and adequate housing. Today, around 80,000 Chicago citizens are on the waiting list for public housing.

“I tried to view with fresh eyes and I came away with skepticism intact,” Ramsey said about talking to the CHA on their new public housing plan.

The CHA told Ramsey and her colleagues that their reports on public housing was on their website. However, when they went to check the website, there was no information to be found. This ruined the CHA’s credibility in Ramsey’s eyes.

Ramsey joined the fight to protect public housing in 1979 when she joined the Jewish Council for Urban Affairs. The JCUA is considered one of Chicago’s most influential organizations speaking on behalf of human and civil rights. They have fought against poverty, racism and anti-Semitism. She also has served as a member of the board for causes such as the Public Welfare Coalition and the Chicago Coalition to Protect Public Housing.

At the end of the lecture, Ramsey urged listeners that it was our role as citizens to ensure the right to public housing.