East Chicago Indiana Lead Crisis
Donation protected
For over 40 years, the residents of the West Calumet Public Housing Complex, in East Chicago, Indiana, have lived directly above and around the site of a former lead and arsenic manufacturing plant.
The lead limits in the soil surrounding and beneath the West Calumet Housing Complex are now 228 times higher than the EPA’s safe limits. This complex has rightfully been condemned by the City of East Chicago and the residents informed that they need to move immediately.
This now displaces over 350 families. They have been given vouchers by HUD that will allow them to secure new housing anywhere in the country that accepts the vouchers, but that does not address the many other costs associated with uprooting and moving your family. Cost such as security deposits, first and last month's rent; truck rental; gas money; moving supplies, etc., that are not covered by source or anyone.
The Indiana State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are on the ground and committed to helping the people in East Chicago as they make this transition.
Certain foods can block lead from being absorbed by the body. Indiana Environmental and Climate Justice Chair, Denise Abdul Rahman, conducted a two day site visit and assessment tour. She was able to secure donations of fresh fruits from two local grocery stores that will be distributed to the families, by local church pantries located in the most contaminated parts of the city.
Your donation will help meet the uncovered needs of those most affected as we continue to offer assistance to them and help them formulate a plan as they move forward rebuilding their lives. They will face medical and educational challenges for the almost 1500 children that lived in West Calumet and attended the recently closed Carrie Gosch Elementary School that was in their back yard.
We continue as the NAACP to work toward Environmental Justice; Health Justice; Economic Justice; Voting Rights Justice; Educational Justice; and Criminal Justice for not only for the residents of Calumet, West Calumet, and the Flint, Michigans of this country but for the future of their children too.
Help us help them. Thank you for your support.
Barbara Bolling-Williams
Indiana State Conference President
www.IndianaSCNAACP.org
The lead limits in the soil surrounding and beneath the West Calumet Housing Complex are now 228 times higher than the EPA’s safe limits. This complex has rightfully been condemned by the City of East Chicago and the residents informed that they need to move immediately.
This now displaces over 350 families. They have been given vouchers by HUD that will allow them to secure new housing anywhere in the country that accepts the vouchers, but that does not address the many other costs associated with uprooting and moving your family. Cost such as security deposits, first and last month's rent; truck rental; gas money; moving supplies, etc., that are not covered by source or anyone.
The Indiana State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are on the ground and committed to helping the people in East Chicago as they make this transition.
Certain foods can block lead from being absorbed by the body. Indiana Environmental and Climate Justice Chair, Denise Abdul Rahman, conducted a two day site visit and assessment tour. She was able to secure donations of fresh fruits from two local grocery stores that will be distributed to the families, by local church pantries located in the most contaminated parts of the city.
Your donation will help meet the uncovered needs of those most affected as we continue to offer assistance to them and help them formulate a plan as they move forward rebuilding their lives. They will face medical and educational challenges for the almost 1500 children that lived in West Calumet and attended the recently closed Carrie Gosch Elementary School that was in their back yard.
We continue as the NAACP to work toward Environmental Justice; Health Justice; Economic Justice; Voting Rights Justice; Educational Justice; and Criminal Justice for not only for the residents of Calumet, West Calumet, and the Flint, Michigans of this country but for the future of their children too.
Help us help them. Thank you for your support.
Barbara Bolling-Williams
Indiana State Conference President
www.IndianaSCNAACP.org
Organizer
Indiana State Conference NAACP
Organizer
Gary, IN
