STOP THE ILLEGAL REMOVAL OF PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS FROM NEW ORLEANS : NOLA Indymedia

We ask that HUD support the residents of Forest Park, Tanglewood Apartments, Walnut Square, Christopher Projects, Fisher Projects, Jackson Landing, Iberville Project and all other Section 8 or publicly-funded housing in the New Orleans area in our just quest for maintaining our existing leases and upholding the conditions of our leases as listed below:

1. Any tenant whose place of residence is still legally inhabitable under the building codes must be allowed to stay. We demand that the management of these projects and HUD respect Governor Kathleen Blanco's decree banning evictions because of the disaster.
2. Every tenant be accorded the right to return to his or her apartment within ninety days. Each tenant must be notified in person when his or her apartment becomes ready for reoccupation.
3. There shall be no raise in the rent upon reoccupation.
4. Any new lease contracts upon reentry of our apartments must not incorporate new restrictions on tenants terms of occupancy such as restrictions on childrens or pets, etc.
5. Management must assist tenants in finding alternative temporary housing during the interim period while tenants housing is being renovated, so that tenants may move back into their home as expediently as possible.

We trust the management will respect the right of the vast majority of tenants whose apartments are inhabitable to remain in their homes.

Respectfully submitted,

Charlestine Jones
Spokesperson of the Forest Park Tenants Association
(504) 362-2833

Also endorsed by:
Hands Off Iberville Coalition
contact: Jay 504-520-9521
New Orleans

Common Ground Collective
contact: Jeff 504-368-6897
New Orleans

SHEN (Street Health Empowerment Network) Stepping Stone
Pittsburgh, PA

Mayday DC
Washington DC

Family Farm Defenders
Madison, WI

Any individual or group that is willing to go on public record to support the demands of the Forest Park Tenants Association can do so by e-mailing a message of support to forestparkresist@gmail.com or calling any of the numbers listed above.

If you are a resident and need help finding housing, or wish to make a complaint against your landlord, call the HUD Katrina relief hotline at 1-800-685-8470 (press "1"). You can also reach the regional office of the HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at 817-978-5900 (Fort Worth).