Officials at the HIV/AIDS housing and support agency known as AIDSCare not only knew ahead of time that its residents had to vacate but assured them that they would be taken care of for years, a former client charged.
The former resident, who requested that his name not be publicized, told Windy City Times that 'AIDSCare knew about having to vacate for over a year. They told us that they would put us in subsidized housing. Now, they've put 14 people in jeopardy.' According to a press release from AIDSCare, a Catholic order known as the Society of Helpers recently informed the agency in early May that it would have to leave the facility located at 315 W. Barry by Aug. 1 to make way for a condo building.
According to a recent article in the Chicago Reader, the sisters reportedly sold the property for $21 million. The nuns purchased the Meeker Mansion in 1945, converted the mansion's coach house into a residence, and built a chapel and a dormitory. During the '60s and '70s, they resided in both the dorm and the mansion. However, their numbers dwindled and, in 1993, the nuns invited AIDSCare to move into the coach house and the mansion. Jim Flosi, the founder and CEO of AIDSCare, changed the mansion into a residence for those with AIDS and set up the organization's offices in the coach house.
The ex-client said that residents were told that they would be at the West Barry facility for 'three to four more years.' Now, he feels betrayed. 'At least the case workers are trying to find housing. Right now, people's livelihoods are in jeopardy,' he said.
Ellyn Harris, the chief development officer of AIDSCare, disputed the former client's remarks. 'Those facts are incorrect,' she commented. 'We have been given less than 90 days notice and we've been scrambling to find alternative housing and sources of funding. We've worked with Chicago House and Bonaventure House and have placed a few.'
She also said that 'Flosi has done everything in his power to have us stay until the evictions.'
However, the Reader article gives some credence to what the ex-resident stated. According to the item, Sister Mary Ellen Moore, the order's treasurer, informed Flosi last November that the nuns were contemplating selling the property. A few months later, Flosi saw a real estate broker showing two men around his office. In early April, Sister Mary Ellen told him that they were planning on vacating the property by August. However, Flosi hoped that things could work out.
Things have turned out well for the former resident—sort of. He has found an apartment on the North Side; however, he is on a fixed income and after paying $650 for rent each month, he only has just over $250 left. He is still concerned about the residents who have not been as fortunate, though.
'I'm really worried that people are going to be sleeping in the park,' he said.