I have heard countless stories, too numerous to mention them all. I have chosen a few to relate to our readers the unjust and inhumane treatment of low-income residents throughout the State of Delaware. I am hoping that when you read further you will also be appalled, and you will respond to these problems by writing us at the Delaware Housing Coalition, by joining the Delaware State Wide Association of Tenants, or by calling us on the Tenants Rights Hotline (1-888-335-7928) with your questions or comments or requests for help in organizing your development. Together we can accomplish what we can not do alone

I charge many managers with racism, elder abuse, evicting lower- income residents and replacing them with higher-income residents, and infringing on the tenants’ rights to organize. Elder abuse may sound like too strong a term to use. I am not talking about physical abuse, I am talking about fear, and intimidation by threats of eviction, talking to tenants in a condescending manner therefor stripping them of their pride and dignity.

The Fate of Our Elders

We received a call on the tenants rights hotline from an 89 year old woman She is a sweet, bright articulate woman who is kind to everyone. She told us of a horrifying account, of how the property manager yells at the tenants of her building. She also told us of one particular incident I feel really needs to be mentioned. One day she witnessed the manager yelling at an elderly man with Parkinson’s Disease. The manager told him if he did not clean his apartment he was going to be evicted. The manager then entered his apartment and moved his personal belongings around the room stating he needed to clean up or get out.

There was no tenant council in her building, so we helped to organize one. They had nominated an elderly African-American man to run for president. Management talked with many residents, encouraging them to nominate a Caucasian woman who enjoys spending most of her time in the manager’s office.

The League of Women Voters was called in to ensure a fair election. Unfortunately management prompted many tenants to vote for their candidate, and their candidate won the election. One day prior to their first scheduled Tenant Council meeting the new President called a meeting of her own. She called this meeting to disband the whole tenant council. She stated she felt there was no reason to have a tenant council. When some tenants tried to talk about problems that they felt the newly elected tenant council could help with , she stated " If you don’t like it here you can leave." Unfortunately that is a statement used by management on a regular basis.

The new president was urged in the next meeting to participate as president or to resign , she refused to do either at that time. Another meeting was called to make a list of things that needed repair and to discuss the great need for security. About 40 minutes into the meeting the president was called out of the meeting by the developments’ district manager. She left the meeting abruptly stating, "This has been long enough for a meeting." the vice-president of the resident council then facilitated the meeting. The residents then voted to write a letter to management which contained a list of things in need of repair and the great need for security.

The tenant council at this point wrote a petition for the removal of the tenant council president. Over 30% of the tenants in the building signed the petition, and the management’s president was voted out of office.

They have voted in a new tenant council president, and are working to improve the quality of life for all residents. They are still in need of security, and management still continues to use fear and intimidation to "keep tenants in their place". But now their tenant council is strong and united and the fear and intimidation used by management isn’t so intimidating anymore.

I am very proud of their tenant council, and I admire them for their wisdom and strength. I was taught to always have respect for my elders, maybe now they can demand the respect that is due them from management.

An Unnecessary and Shameful Eviction

Another account of fear and intimidation comes from a public housing site. We receive a call from a 22 year old African-American resident with 2 children ,one of which has leukemia. She told us that she was incarcerated for 48 days on a traffic violation. Unfortunately, her lease states that being incarcerated for more than 30 days is grounds for eviction. I went with her to an informal hearing in her development with 2 managers , one from her development and one from another public housing site. Both women were Caucasian, and it puzzled my why a manager was called in from such a long distance. Was it because the manager at a closer site was also African- American, and the manager at this particular site preferred not to have a person of color to help make this decision?

I tried to plead to their humanity, but evidently they would not let themselves be touched. I asked them to imagine themselves: 9 months pregnant with 2 children, one of which has leukemia, being faced with eviction proceedings. At this point the pregnant woman began to cry. I watched the 2 woman for a response. All I saw in their response was contempt and hostility.

After speaking with several residents in her development, I was told that 5 African-American families have been evicted in the past year and they were replaced by white families. We are now awaiting a written response from management on whether or not they are going to move forward with the eviction proceedings

Was my plea to their humanity of no avail?