Staking Our Claim

The Fight for Better Housing in the 1970s

Patrick Morrissy

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English

Chestnut Street, LLC
22 April 2025

Biography: general; Urban communities; Social welfare & social services; Political activism; Urban & municipal planning

""Staking Our Claim"" takes readers on an inspiring journey through the turbulent 1970s, following Patrick Morrissy's quest to rebuild both urban neighborhoods and a sense of community in America's struggling cities.

Set against the backdrop of urban decline, economic instability, and racial tension, this powerful memoir chronicles how Morrissy and his dedicated band of tenant activists fought to preserve affordable housing and empower residents in Orange and East Orange, New Jersey.

When Morrissy purchases a dilapidated Victorian house in East Orange, he doesn't just embark on a renovation project-he creates a home base for a movement. Living communally with like-minded activists, he helps build grassroots organizations battling rising rents, neglectful landlords, and government policies that undermined urban neighborhoods. Their collective efforts lead to the creation of Shelterforce, a national publication connecting housing activists across the country, and the strengthening of tenant rights organizations fighting for economic justice.

Written with candor and warmth, Morrissy weaves together personal struggles and political awakening with the practical challenges of community organizing. Readers will be moved by his accounts of ordinary people coming together to take control of their housing circumstances-from Jackie Cooke organizing her neighbors on Lenox Avenue to Phyllis Salowe leading the charge for stronger rent control laws. Throughout, Morrissy reveals the profound impact that passionate individuals can have when they unite around a common cause.

""Staking Our Claim"" is both a time capsule of a pivotal era in American history and a blueprint for contemporary community organizers. For anyone interested in grassroots activism, urban history, or the ongoing struggle for affordable housing, this memoir offers valuable lessons about the search for meaning, the power of collective action, and the enduring value of community in the face of economic hardship.

By: Patrick Morrissy
Imprint: Chestnut Street, LLC
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 26mm
Weight: 617g
ISBN: 9798218642457
Pages: 466
Publication Date: 22 April 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Patrick Morrissy is retired from a forty-six-year career in community development, working to stabilize and revitalize urban neighborhoods. He now lives in Carbondale, Colorado with his wife Jean Campbell, where he's still working politically to reclaim America for working people who've been left behind by an economy governed by the rich and powerful.

Reviews for Staking Our Claim: The Fight for Better Housing in the 1970s

""To have the essentials of life, we need a place to live. Patrick Morrissy has been one of the country's most effective organizers for tenants. He has a life full of experiences and lessons to share. He knows that we need to organize with those most impacted and build our power to win. Housing may be the most major issue that is the least considered on the national agenda. All those who care about having a country that meets human needs should read this book.""Heather Booth, founder of The Midwest Academy