Alton Bennett
Alton Bennett joined ACORN as a volunteer member in 1984, becoming Treasurer in the mid 90s. After leaving that position in 2002, he became the President of ACORN Housing Corporation, and then the Affordable Housing Centers of America. In this interview, Mr. Bennett begins by talking about growing up in Columbus, Ohio. He discusses the difference that affordable housing has made throughout his life–first in public housing, then in a small house his father secured at the age of 65, and finally as a father in Minneapolis. Alton discusses how ACORN used organizing to give low and moderate income people a voice in their neighborhoods and on national issues like jobs and housing. He reflects on the many remarkable people he met in the organization, and on the pride he felt seeing the organization turn vacant houses into family homes. He analyses why ACORN was targeted by the Right, and other factors that led to the organization’s ending.