Resource Center

Stories

The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast.

These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need.

Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:



Search results for "Chicago Housing Authority" ...

  • Out At First

    The Chicago Housing Authority has one of the most punitive criminal activity eviction policies in the nation. The agency moves to evict tenants based on a single arrest -- even when the crime is committed by their children, anyone else living in the unit or even a guest. Tenants are also subject to eviction if they are arrested for a crime that occurred off CHA property, even if it's in another state.

    Tags: chicago; housing; authority; eviction;

    By Angela Caputo; Kimbriell Kelly

    The Chicago Reporter

    2011

  • Dumping Grounds?; Just Moving On; Six More Years

    "The Chicago Housing Authority will spend $1.6 billion on its 'Plan for Transformation'- a 10-year urban reform plan to destroy and tear-down more than 38,000 units of high-rise public housing and rebuild vibrant condo-style mixed-income housing in its place. Yet seven years into the plan, the authority has only built 1,600 replacement units of a promised 6,000 in mixed-income condos."

    Tags: relocation; regulation; Harold Ickes Homes; Dearborn Homes

    By Casey Sanchez

    Chicago Reporter

    2006

  • A Questionable Connection

    In conjunction with the Better Government Association, the Residents' Journal took on an 8-month investigation into dozens of contracts with the Chicago Housing Association, and their political links to CHA CEO Terry Peterson. What they found was that 62 companies with contracts through the CHA gave more than $250,000 to the 17th Ward Democratic Organization.

    Tags: Chicago Housing Authority; real estate; housing; 17th Ward Democratic Organization; CAR

    By Mary C. Johns;Beauty Turner;Gabriel Piemonte;Micah Maidenberg;Dan Sprehe;Jay Stewart;Ethan Michaeli

    Residents' Journal

    2005

  • The Final Frontier

    This investigation looks into the Chicago Housing Authority and demographic changes that have occurred with the destruction of public housing. Starting with 1995, The Chicago Reporter analyzed residential property transactions and home mortgage lending data, as well as Census data to track significant racial and economic shifts over the years.

    Tags: Chicago Housing Authority; public housing; real estate; home mortgage lending data; CAR; housing developments; FOIA; Census 2000

    By Kimbriell Kelly;Amy Rainey;Whitney Woodward

    Chicago Reporter

    2005

  • Rapid Change

    The authors analyzed home mortgage data to evaluate which areas of Chicago are growing the fastest. They found that the fastest growing housing market in Chicago exists in areas near recently torn down public housing. The authors explore this phenomenon, talk to many Chicago residents, and offer possible explanations for the increasing popularity of those neighborhoods.

    Tags: housing; mortgage; data analysis; real estate; Housing and Urban Development; computer-assisted reporting; Cabrini-Green

    By Amy Rainey;Whitney Woodward

    Chicago Reporter

    2005

  • Subsidizing Failure

    The Tribune analyzed inspection records of housing units rented to recipients of Section 8 housing vouchers and found widespread failure. They discovered that 6,000 Chicago landlords who receive Section 8 funds failed the majority of inspections of their properties. These violations led to thousands of evictions of tenants who were not responsible for the substandard conditions of their apartments.

    Tags: Section 8; Chicago Housing Authority; Hope VI Program; federal vouchers

    By Antonio Olivo;John Bebow;Darnell Little

    Chicago Tribune

    2005

  • Deadly Moves

    The Chicago Housing Authority's Plan for Tranformation was an effort to demolish the city's public housing buildings and replace them with mixed-income neighborhoods. But the demolition puts competing street gangs and drug dealers in small public housing spaces. The number of murders has increased since 2000. The reporters uncover whether this plan has a negative or positive impact, and what the city plans to do about the growing conflict.

    Tags: Chicago Housing Authority; Plan for Tranformation; public housing; mixed-income neighborhoods; territorial disputes

    By Alden Loury;Mary C. Johns;Brian J. Rogal;Beauty Turner

    Chicago Reporter

    2004

  • CHA Tenant Evictions Jump As Buildings Fall

    An investigation by the Chicago Reporter shows that the Chicago Housing Authority is stepping up evictions in buildings it has targeted for redevelopment --a move that reduces the number of public housing tenants the agency must provide with replacement housing.

    Tags: Chicago Housing Authority; CHA; families; developments; displacement; public housing

    By Brian J. Rogal

    Chicago Reporter

    1998

  • Chicago Hope

    This article examines HUD's latest effort to house the poor and replace deteriorating, high-rise projects. Focusing particularly on Chicago, the Section 8 voucher program and HOPE VI revitalization initiative are highlighted.

    Tags: HUD; housing; projects; Chicago; Mayor Daley; Cabrini-Green; public housing; Housing and Urban Development Department; HOPE VI; Section 8; Chicago Housing Authority

    By Megan Twohey

    National Journal

    2000

  • CHA Parents Seek Stability As Housing Falls

    As the Chicago Housing Authority closes down more developments due to failed inspections and uncorrected problems, low-income families are forced to move, ultimately putting their children into new school districts. School and housing officials informally agreed to pay for busing if students were moved from the development during the school year. However, the groups have interpretted this agreement differently. The CHA says "only children who are relocated outside a development because a building is scheduled for closure should be included." But school officials say "assistance should be available for any CHA family who moves, if a parent wants a child to remain in the school." Parents agree that pulling their children out of schools is not in their best academic interests, but many can not afford transportation. And while authorities thought moving people would create diversity, "most children who left schools serving Chicago Housing Authority developments between 1995 and 2000 transferred to schools with above-average numbers of low-income, black and low-achieving students." The Chicago Reporter provides insight on these issues.

    Tags: Chicago Housing Authority; schools; housing; children; transportation; education; Illinois School Code; low-income; families; housing subsidies

    By Brian J. Rogal;Dan Weissmann

    Chicago Reporter

    2001