Oct. 17--Elderly residents of three Chicago subsidized-rent apartment buildings filed a lawsuit Friday against the nonprofit that runs the buildings after officials told tenants this summer that the units would be sold and they will have to move out.
The lawsuit against Presbyterian Homes Inc. seeks class-action status and was filed by six residents of the Neighborhood Homes buildings in Lakeview and West Rogers Park.
The suit alleges that Presbyterian has violated the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance and breached the lifetime leases tenants had for the apartments.
Presbyterian Homes officials were not immediately available for comment.
The lawsuit alleges that each of about 100 residents in the three buildings have "lifetime leases of these subsidized units," and were told they could continue to live in the apartments as long as they paid the agreed rent and obeyed the rules.
Presbyterian Homes informed tenants Aug. 14 that the buildings would be sold and all residents would need to move out, according to the lawsuit.
"The residents, all senior citizens, many with disabilities, and most on fixed incomes, face a future without a home they can afford," the lawsuit states. "The six named plaintiffs are longtime residents of Chicago who, like the rest of the residents, were informed by Presbyterian House and understood they could remain in their residence and their community for life."
Presbyterian Homes plans to close all Neighborhood Homes apartments by Nov. 1, 2016, according to the lawsuit.
geoffz@tribpub.com
