Pubdate: Thu, 28 Mar 2002
Source: Wilmington Morning Star (NC)
Copyright: 2002 Wilmington Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.wilmingtonstar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/500
Author: Bettie Fennell

IS DRUG POLICY FAIR?  PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS OPPOSE SUPREME COURT RULING

Eleanor Moore, 92, thinks mothers share the blame when their children get 
into trouble. But the grandmother, who has lived in Taylor Homes on 
Wilmington's Northside for more than 30 years, doesn't think it's fair to 
evict an entire family if one member uses or sells drugs.

"I don't think it would be right," said Mrs. Moore, who had 13 children and 
raised 12 of her grandchildren. She would have known if any had been 
involved with drugs, she said, but the whole family wouldn't necessarily know.

In a ruling Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal law giving 
public housing agencies the right to evict tenants if someone in the 
household is using or dealing drugs. Some tenants in Wilmington's public 
housing disagree with the ruling.

Shamaine Mack and Lashanna Adams, also Taylor Homes residents, said Housing 
Authority officials should target people who are actually involved in drugs.

"I don't think that is fair to the families at all," said Ms. Adams, who 
has a 4-year-old son.

Evicting whole families would only add to the homeless population in 
Wilmington, said Ms. Adams, 24. She has lived in the Taylor Homes public 
housing complex all her life. Ms. Adams said outsiders, not tenants, cause 
drug problems there.

Ms. Mack, who has three sons, ages 3, 5 and 6, said those who are involved 
in drugs should be put on the Wilmington Housing Authority's list of people 
forbidden from Housing Authority property. The authority has a list of more 
than 200 people who are prohibited from going onto its property. The list, 
last updated in September, can be viewed on the agency's Web site.

Fred Boyd, who lives in a house across the street from Taylor Homes, said 
if he knew someone in his house used or sold drugs, he would kick them out 
- - after giving them a second chance. Mr. Boyd, who was visiting with Taylor 
Homes residents, said the Supreme Court ruling could help rid neighborhoods 
of drug abusers and dealers.

An existing Housing Authority policy allows officials to evict families for 
criminal activity involving some of its members. Executive Director 
Benjamin Quattlebaum said each case should be judged independently before 
tossing families out of public housing.

Since he took over as executive director in November, Mr. Quattlebaum said 
the Wilmington Housing Authority hasn't evicted any families because of 
drug use by a member. But the agency has several possible cases pending.

Between September and December, the Housing Authority evicted five tenants 
involved in drugs. On Wednesday, Mr. Quattlebaum was unable to provide 
statistics on evictions before that time.

It used to be more difficult to evict residents from public housing.

In 1997, public housing officials in the state helped get a state law 
passed that allows them to bypass lengthy appeals and go directly to a 
District Court judge to get an eviction order. Before the law was passed, 
it could take months to evict someone.

The Wilmington Housing Authority's Web site is www.wha.net
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