In the Dec. 28, 2016, issue of WCT, Ed Stellon, executive director of Heartland Outreachspeaking on behalf of its parent organization, Heartland Allianceis quoted as saying, "We've always taken the 'latest and greatest' when it comes to justice, housing, healthcare services, and then tried to tailor it to the most vulnerable populations."
Well now, anyone who is a tenant of Boystown's Town Hall apartments managed by the very company Stellon represents can see through to the preposterousness of his rhetoric. Even Heartland Alliance's motto, "Justice for All, Safety for All, Healing for All," is as laughable as it is disturbing. I, as a Town Hall tenant, know how rank the security is in this supposedly safe haven for LGBT seniors.
Often, the front door, especially in the cold weather, jams, locking us out. And we face an empty lobby with no concierge, no staffing at all anywhere in the building. And Heartland has the audacity to tell us in such cases to proceed through a poorly lit alley to use the back door.
As if that was not enough, oftentimes at least one of our two elevators is out of commission, compromising our safety in the event that police or paramedics need quick access to the upper floors.
What is Heartland Alliance doing with its $29 million HUD grant that it cannot hire full-time security at the front deskor keep the front door from lapsing into disrepair? In the meantime, Heartland Alliance is always there to collect the rentand that is what it does best.
Craig Teichen
Chicago
[Note: Heartland Alliance declined to send a written response.]