We are members of various communities in and around Chicago who fight to keep people in their homes, and to claim land for people who are homeless. Some of us are homeowners. Some are renters. Some are residents of public housing. And some of us have been, or are currently, homeless. We have chapters in Albany Park, Austin, Belmont Cragin, Rogers Park, and Logan Square.
We believe housing is a human right, and we recognize that big banks’ predatory lending practices and subprime mortgage loans have been the main cause of the current housing crisis.
We also stand with members of our community who face eviction from public housing, for we know that human lives and well-being should top the list of any government budget — rather than being among the first things cut.
We believe no one benefits from vacant, boarded-up properties in our neighborhoods, which destroys property values and promotes bad health and crime.
There are in Chicago today more habitable vacant properties than there are homeless people – further proof for us that the housing crisis we face today is not only tragic, but unnecessary.
We believe in using any means necessary to keep our communities intact and keep people in their homes, including legal strategies; informing the media of our struggles; and using direct action (such as demonstrations and occupations of living spaces) — whatever it takes to keep our communities together, and to claim the land for ourselves and future generations.
Contact us at unitedagainsteviction@gmail.com.
