Common Ground Relief - Eviction defense

Legal Collective Update

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 20:58:53 +0000

The legal collective currently has numerous projects on the go.

HUD Lawsuit
The Common Ground Legal Collective supports the lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The lawsuit charges that HUD is discriminating against low-income black residents by refusing to reopen housing units undamaged by Hurricane Katrina, failing to repair other units and planning to destroy most of the public housing available in New Orleans without plans to replace them. The suit also declares that HUD is violating the rights of public-housing residents by evicting them despite their legal and valid leases, and of violating international law guaranteeing the right of displaced people to return home.

Housing and Human Needs Committee Meeting Monday, May 21st

Sun, 20 May 2007 14:38:25 +0000

HR 1227, the bill to release additional federal funds, restore affordable housing and reopen public housing in New Orleans, is on the agenda for the New Orleans City Council Housing and Human Needs Committee Meeting for this Monday, May 21st.

The meeting is to be held in Baton Rouge in the Baton Rouge City Council Chambers, at 10 am., 19th Judicial District Court Building, 222 St. Lewis St., third floor, room 364.

Take gov't st. exit off of I-10, head towards river, come all the way down to St. Louis, turn right, park in parking garage on left or right on St. Louis, building on left hand side in the next block.

Facing Imminent Homelessness, Woodlands Families Appeal to Landlord

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:27:31 +0000

New Orleans, LA (January 4, 2007) – Eighteen Woodlands families facing homelessness will hold a press conference at 9:00am on their eviction date, Thursday, January 4, to ask Soundra Johnson-Temple of Baton Rouge, owner of Johnson Properties Group, LLC, for more time to find housing. The press conference will be at the Woodlands apartment complex (3010 Sandra Dr.) in Algiers.

Download pdf or doc

Displaced Public Housing Residents Protest Tomorrow at Mayor’s House

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 21:35:54 +0000

New Orleans, LA (December 16, 2006) -Displaced residents and supporters will rally outside Mayor Ray Nagin’s house on Saturday to demand the re-opening of New Orleans public housing. At 10:00am protesters will gather at Bynum Drugs Store, 3838 St. Bernard Ave (map), and from there will march to Nagin’s home.

Download pdf or doc

PRESS RELEASE - Woodlands Residents to City Council –Help Us Find Homes

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 15:58:35 +0000

New Orleans, LA (December 14, 2006) –With evictions looming, residents of the Woodlands apartment complex in Algiers will be asking New Orleans City Council members to turn the commitments of assistance made on November 2 into homes before January 4, 2007. A press conference will be held Thursday at 9:30am outside City Hall.

Download pdf or doc

Woodlands Residents Win Reprieve from Holiday Season Evictions

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 21:12:17 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 28, 2006

Contact: Soleil Rodrigue, Legal Coordinator, 504-717-7324
Don Paul, Chief Operations Coordinator, 504-421-2706

Woodlands Residents Win Reprieve from Holiday Season Evictions

New Orleans, LA (November 28, 2006) – Shouts of jubilation broke out today at the Algiers Courthouse when it was announced that tenants of the Woodlands Apartment complex would be able to remain in their homes rent-free until January 4th. This is being seen as a partial victory as the tenants will be able to spend the holidays at home, but will still be worried about where they will be living in the New Year.

Download pdf or doc

"Tent city" protest at St. Bernard housing project

Sat, 27 May 2006 15:28:53 +0000

Every person who supports the right of return for Katrina
survivors should welcome the "tent city" protest encampment that will open on Saturday June 3rd just outside the St. Bernard Housing complex. The points of unity of the tent city protest are fourfold:
1.Safe, decent and sanitary housing is a right, not a privilege;
2.Everyone who was evacuated from New Orleans has an unconditional right to come back;
3. All of the current public housing stock should be preserved (no demolition) ( no privatization) ;
4.All public housing units that were open before the storm should be reopened;

Home Despot

Sun, 09 Apr 2006 18:19:15 +0000

January 31st, 2006
by: jeremy

Just as I was coming back from my second trip home, I read this in the Times-Picayune. It’s hard to believe how far these corporations and politicians will actually go in the face of this housing crisis. The devastation of the hurricanes, much like that of the Iraq war, have opened the door to the most aggressive and drastic ruling class agenda. Paul Bremer and the neo-cons tried to impose a free-market utopia on post-war Iraq. That continues blow up in their faces.

Post-Katrina New Orleans was seen as a similar opportunity for radical capitalist reshaping: “Demographic changes,” real estate booms, dismantling public social programs. In come the charter schools, out goes public housing.

Community Meetings on Housing Program

Fri, 07 Apr 2006 21:53:27 +0000

Community Meetings on Housing Program Planned for
Southeast and Southwest Louisiana Next Week
Public Encouraged to Attend and Provide Feedback on The Road Home

Baton Rouge -Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) will host community meetings to collect feedback from citizens on the proposed housing plan, known as The Road Home.

The meetings will be held on Wednesday, April 12 from 3- 9 pm in Southeast and Southwest Louisiana. The meeting in Southeast Louisiana will be held at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA Riverside), which is located at 2800 Chartres Street in New Orleans. The meeting in Southwest Louisiana will be held at the Lake Charles Civic Center, 900 Lakeshore Drive in Lake Charles.