Story left out crucial context on subsidized housing

YOUR ARTICLE "Grim proving ground for Obama's housing policy" (Page A1, June 27) only tells half the story about our homes, Grove Parc Plaza Apartments, and about subsidized housing in this country. It leaves out the context needed for a responsible discussion about national housing policy. Budget cuts and deregulation - policies carried out by both major parties - have left millions of Americans without a stable home. While hundreds of billions of dollars go to the war, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development is facing a $2.8 billion shortfall this year alone, leaving 400,000 lease-compliant families in subsidized housing facing homelessness.

Grove Parc is a symbol not just of past failure but of hope for a new way forward for subsidized housing. As tenants, we stopped the foreclosure of Grove Parc and brought in a nonprofit developer that is working with us to turn the development around. Our struggle highlights two principles both presidential campaigns should heed. First, tenants must be full participants in shaping local and national housing policy. Second, quality housing must be guaranteed for all as a human right and social responsibility, not a source of speculation and profiteering.

Some will use your article to argue for further cuts to housing programs. Cutting badly needed subsidies in any housing program is irresponsible and unethical, especially in these dire economic times.

Your paper and both candidates have a duty to better reflect the concerns and experiences of ordinary working people - who have the biggest stake in this debate - in all discussions of housing policy.

LONNIE RICHARDSON
President
CYNTHIA ASHLEY
Corresponding secretary Grove Parc Tenants Association
Chicago