In November, Coffey reached a settlement in a civil rights complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that alleged systemic housing discrimination on the part of the East Chicago Housing Authority. HUD has provided the authority with $1.9 million to administer housing vouchers, provide relocation counselors, and pay for other moving expenses.
West Calumet was built in the 1960s and ’70s atop a defunct lead smelter. Even at low levels of exposure, lead attacks the central nervous system of children and can disrupt brain development, cause shortened attention spans, and lead to hypertension, impaired kidneys, and poor academic performance.
The housing authority hasn’t, however, made a similar offer to job seekers. At 41 percent, Riverdale has one of the city’s highest unemployment rates, and the neighborhood lacks job opportunities.
