Nonprofit Fires Back at Homeowners Association Claims

In yet another rhetorical battle in the affordable housing war, a Winnetka-based nonprofit organization is fighting a homeowners association's new webpage that is dedicated to derailing the nonprofit's efforts.

The Winnetka Home Owners Association (WHOA)'s new webpage about Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs (IHCNS) discusses the make-up of the nonprofit, its history and its goals.

"Why won’t this Affordable Housing issue go away? Who is behind this? FOLLOW THE MONEY...," reads the top headline on the page.

Gail Schechter, of the IHCNS, sent an email entitled "Open Letter to Our Supporters" on Tuesday.

In the letter, the executive director said: "I'm writing you today because the Interfaith Housing Center and its mission are under severe attack from the Winnetka Home Owners Association (WHOA), whose members deeply oppose affordable housing in their community."

A major disagreement between the two groups lies in the legacy of affordable housing disagreements in Winnetka as well as more recent activity.

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The nonprofit organization supports the Plan Commission's latest recommendations for affordable housing, while the Winnetka Home Owners Assocation does not.

Schechter said she came into work at 614 Lincoln Ave. on Monday to discover a new WHOA webpage devoted to her organization, IHCNS.

Alleged errors on the website provoked Schechter to write the email call-to-arms, which said: "We strongly denounce the communications of WHOA ridiculing the enforcement of fair, open, diverse and integrated communities as "sting operations" for big bucks."

The executive director pointed to inaccuracies in staff numbers (nine, not eight members); an edited YouTube video with Schechter on WTTW that cut out the interviewer's question (it was removed due to copyright infringement); and a quote about Schechter's opinion of Winnetka residents (she denies ever making general statements about residents).

The webpage connects IHCNS with the momentum for affordable housing in Winnetka.

"It is not true that we're behind this [affordable housing proposal]," said Schechter, holding up a copy of the "1979 Statement" from the Village of Winnetka, as proof that the village has been behind the initiative for decades.

In addition, Schechter disagreed with WHOA's description of a "huge budget" for the nonprofit. "We have $600,000 per year, and that's for nine people, which is not all that much when you include overhead costs."

Carry Buck, chair of WHOA, and Ann Dillon, chief editor of WHOA, stick to their work and contend that IHCNS spins the facts when it comes to the power behind affordable housing. They believe the political agenda is derived primarily, if not only, from IHCNS lobbying.

"We [Winnetkans] already voted down affordable housing in 2005, when six village presidents told residents to vote for home rule and stop affordable housing," said Buck. "It is insulting; we've voted on this before and our votes are not being respected."

The next village council meeting is Sept. 6. The property maintenance code, which is one part in the debate, may be on the agenda.

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