ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- The Rockford Housing Authority is practicing some tough love with its tenants who haven't fulfilled their community service requirements. Now, dozens are now facing eviction.

RHA Tenant Chelsey Cole said, "Well I don't pay rent, so in order for me to stay out here, that's what I have to do."

Chelsey Cole has been out of work for two years--six months ago she found out she owed the RHA more than 80 hours of community service. She’s since been working those hours off at the Boys and Girls club.

She said, "I don't mind being with the kids. I help them do their homework, supervise them. Give them snacks when it's time to give snacks out--I like it."

One thousand people are currently on a waiting list to live in a Rockford Housing Development and it has been that way since 2006.

The RHA says it's time to practice some tough love--those who don't complete their community service hours won't be granted a new lease.

Ron Clewer from the RHA said, "The housing authorities across the nation have not traditionally enforced it over the past several years. Many housing authorities are moving to enforcement, because there is such a heavy subsidy that's attached to public housing."

RHA spokespeople say 60 of its tenants are non-compliant and if they don't fulfill their community service soon they can be evicted.

Clewer said, "When we say they're not compliant, we're not saying that every tenant has done nothing. We've got a lot of tenants who are just a couple hours away from compliance."

The elderly, disabled, students, and employed aren't required to do community service. However, if you're out of work you owe eight hours every month or 96 hours a year.

The Rockford Housing Authority tells us of the 19 hundred units the RHA owns about one third of the units are required to complete community service hours.