SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) segment	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments | segment			1
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 43,910	$ 46,934	$ 88,316	$ 92,542
Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes	17,770	19,516	36,703	39,552
Net operating income	26,140	27,418	51,613	52,990
Property management	(1,345)	(1,445)	(2,899)	(2,999)
Casualty gain (loss)	(913)	(92)	(1,240)	(733)
Depreciation and amortization	(18,156)	(18,437)	(36,316)	(36,548)
General and administrative expenses	(3,202)	(3,549)	(6,630)	(7,355)
Interest expense	(6,940)	(7,590)	(13,851)	(15,486)
Interest and other income	538	468	(2,239)	892
Income (loss) before gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments and gain (loss) on litigation settlement	(3,895)	(3,634)	(11,579)	(9,648)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(17)	(407)	(17)	(409)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate and other investments	(190)	615	(190)	669
Gain (loss) on litigation settlement	0	6,286	0	6,286
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(4,085)	3,267	(11,769)	(2,693)
Segment assets
Property owned	1,694,033		1,694,033		$ 1,643,078
Less accumulated depreciation	(383,917)		(383,917)		(349,122)
Total property owned	1,310,116		1,310,116		1,293,956
Cash and cash equivalents	52,714	17,406	52,714	17,406	26,579
Restricted cash	2,535	4,672	2,535	4,672	19,538
Other assets	16,484		16,484		34,829
Unimproved land					1,376
Mortgage loans receivable	10,961		10,961		16,140
TOTAL ASSETS	1,392,810		1,392,810		1,392,418
Management Service
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Property management	(1,345)	(1,445)	(2,899)	(2,999)
Casualty gain (loss)		(92)	(1,240)	(733)
Operating Segments | Multifamily
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Revenue	43,492	39,867	86,823	78,606
Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes	17,521	16,203	36,099	32,974
Net operating income	25,971	23,664	50,724	45,632
Segment assets
Property owned	1,660,419		1,660,419		1,609,471
Less accumulated depreciation	(373,244)		(373,244)		(339,272)
Total property owned	1,287,175		1,287,175		1,270,199
Operating Segments | All Other
Segment revenues and net operating income [Abstract]
Revenue	418	7,067	1,493	13,936
Property operating expenses, including real estate taxes	249	3,313	604	6,578
Net operating income	169	$ 3,754	889	$ 7,358
Segment assets
Property owned	33,614		33,614		33,607
Less accumulated depreciation	(10,673)		(10,673)		(9,850)
Total property owned	$ 22,941		$ 22,941		$ 23,757