WHO: Erica Bledsoe, her 2 nieces and nephew, and a wide range of community allies
WHAT: Press conference and delivery of over 500 postcards signed by community members demanding that HUD and IHDA intervene to stop the eviction
WHERE: Federal Plaza (Jackson and Dearborn)
WHEN: Monday, October 5th, 12PM
WHY: The management company has no justification for throwing out the family, and the community is demanding that public officials hold their contractors accountable.

Northpoint management is attempting to unjustly evict Erica Bledsoe and her nieces and nephew from their apartment at 7721 N Paulina in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. They are facing a hearing before a county judge on October 8th, which could force this family out of their home.

The case involves three minor children, ages 9, 11 and 14, and their aunt, Erica Bledsoe. The grandmother and guardian of the children, Rosetta Bledsoe (also Erica’s mother), died unexpectedly approximately one year ago due to a stroke – she was only 49. Rosetta had been the children’s primary caretaker and mother, in effect, for at least eight years; the children are listed as tenants on the lease documents in the year 2000. Erica, the aunt, is now the children’s legal guardian.

On October 13, 2008, within six weeks of the death of Rosetta Bledsoe, Northpoint issued a “Demand For Immediate Possession” to the family. The company told them that they all needed to get out immediately, since Rosetta was dead, despite the fact that the minor children were listed on the lease. When Northpoint filed the suit, they didn’t name the children, but instead listed them as “unknown occupants.”

Northpoint is using federal tax dollars to evict the family. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky wrote a letter to HUD on May 29, 2009, asking that the children be allowed to remain in their apartment. So far, that letter has been ignored. To date, no one from HUD or IHDA has interviewed or contacted any member of the Bledsoe family to learn about their struggle.

For more background:
Stopeviction.Blogspot.com
bit.ly/OFE0F