Housing Advocates Want Homeless Put In Vacant CHA Apartments

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Several groups are calling on the Chicago Housing Authority to start putting the homeless in some of the thousands of vacant housing units scheduled for demolition.

The Chicago Housing Initiative estimates the CHA is leaving 2,000 apartments vacant, with about 1,000 of those slated to be torn down.

Officials say the CHA gets federal funding for those units whether they are occupied or not.

Mary Nelson, with the Lakeview Action Coalition, says she could use one of those apartments.

She's homeless and is calling on Mayor Rahm Emanuel to use his influence.

"If our mayor allows ... units to be demolished over the next year, what is going to happen to me and the 105,000 homeless in the City of Chicago?" she said.

Housing advocates say there are 60,000 families on the CHA's waiting list.

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