December 2019 Newsletter: 9 Notable Wins in 2019 | Policy Focus | Housing Counselor Dispatch | Affordable Homes for the Holidays | ​What We're Sharing | Learning & Networking | Jobs  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

December 2019 Newsletter: 9 Notable Wins in 2019 | Policy Focus | Housing Counselor Dispatch | Affordable Homes for the Holidays | What We're Sharing | Learning & Networking | Jobs

9 Notable Wins in 2019

Each year, the Housing Action team works on a broad range of issues aligned with our core mission of creating an Illinois where everyone has a good, affordable place to call home. With 2020 around the corner, we're taking a moment to reflect on nine of our proudest accomplishments. From securing $200 million for affordable housing in Illinois' capital budget to storytelling for change, we've done a lot over the past year.

Check out our 9 most notable wins of 2019 »

 

Policy Focus

Just Housing Goes Into Effect in Cook County on December 31

The Just Housing Amendment will protect more than one million residents and their families by giving people with arrest and conviction records a fair chance at finding housing in Cook County. At the end of November, the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved final rules on how to implement the measure, clearing the way for it to take effect on December 31, 2019. The Just Housing Initiative, which Housing Action Illinois co-chairs with the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance, has worked for years to achieve this major step toward economic and racial justice for families.

Learn more »

 

Robert Marbut Confirmed as Head of U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness

On December 10, Robert Marbut was confirmed as the new executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Housing Action joined many advocates, including the National Low Income Housing Coalition, to express serious concerns with this appointment, given Mr. Marbut's dehumanizing and ineffective approach to homelessness. Our thanks to Illinois Representatives Cheri Bustos, Dani Davis, Bill Foster, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, Mike Quigley, Bobby Rush, and Jan Schakowsky for joining 75 House members who signed a letter to oppose the appointment. We will work with allies to oppose any policies that criminalize or displace those experiencing homelessness and will continue to push for proven solutions to homelessness such as Housing First.

 

Increased Funding for Affordable Housing in FY20 Spending Package

This week, House and Senate leaders reached a final deal to fund affordable housing and community development programs at HUD and USDA as part of a larger minibus package for Fiscal Year 2020. Overall, the spending bill provides HUD programs with more than $12 billion above the president’s request, clearly rejecting the administration’s calls to drastically cut housing benefits that help millions of low-income seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, veterans, and others afford their homes.

Learn more »

 
 

Housing Counselor Dispatch

Online Study Group Registration Open for February Session

Are you ready to pass HUD's Individual Certification Exam? Housing Action's Capacity Building Specialist Wanda Collins is hosting another round of the Online Study Group this February to help you prepare. Each webinar-based module is dedicated to a different section of the exam, helping you gear up in a supportive, peer-learning environment. 

Study with us »

Certified Counselors at 2019 Housing Action Conference

 

Affordable Homes for the Holidays

It’s been a busy year! We’re grateful for the successes we've had this year in our work to promote affordable housing and end homelessness—and we couldn’t have done it without your support. This holiday season, we hope you will consider making a gift to Housing Action Illinois and help support the movement for affordable housing in Illinois.

Together, we can make a difference—and we can't wait to see what we'll accomplish together next year.

 

What We're Sharing 

News

Long Island Divided, Newsday, 11/17

Inside Public Housing Where Cockroaches Drop from the Wall and Kids are Getting Sick, ProPublica Illinois & The Southern Illinoisan, 12/12

Supreme Court Leaves Cities With One Option on Homelessness: More Housing, Los Angeles Times, 12/17

Funding & Recognition

Home Depot's Community Impact Grants awards Home Depot gift cards to nonprofits engaging volunteers to improve their communities. Apply by 12/31.

FHLBank Chicago's Community First Awards recognize partners for work building & strengthening communities. Nominations due 1/17.

Resources & Reports 

Giving in Illinois 2019 (Candid & Forefront) details the scope and giving priorities of the Illinois funding community.

Housing Not Handcuffs 2019 (National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty) provides an overview of laws in effect across the country that punish homelessness.

 

Learning & Networking

See full Housing Action Illinois trainings calendar or general events calendar.

NACEDA - CRA Proposed Rule Change 12/19 (Webinar): Register

Forefront Policy Series: City of Chicago Nonprofit Lobbying Reforms Explained 12/19 (Chicago): Register

Grants Research: An Introduction to Data Resources and Grant Prospect Research 1/16 (St. Louis): Register

MLK Day Dialogue & Service Event with HOPE Fair Housing 1/20 (Glen Ellyn): Register

Nonprofit Policy Update from Forefront 1/21 (Galesburg): Register

 HUD Certification Exam Online Study Group 2/10–2/14 (Webinar Series): Register 

Have something coming up that we should list? Let us know! 

 

Who's Hiring

It's recruitment season for Housing Action Illinois' AmeriCorps VISTA network! We have full-year VISTA positions open for candidates who want to serve their community at one of our member organizations. 

See our VISTA positions »

All Chicago, Lead Data Analyst & Senior Accounting Coordinator

Association for Individual Development, Case Manager (Employment Specialist)

Beyond Housing, Grants Manager & Rental Housing Resource Specialist

Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, Development Director

Chicago Metropolitan Housing Development Corporation, Affordable Housing Acquisition Manager

Chinese American Service League, Various Positions

Connections for the Homeless, Director of Community Programs & Community Case Manager

CSH, Various Positions

DuPage PADS, Various Positions

Enterprise Community Partners, Senior Program Director

Erie Neighborhood House, Outreach Coordinator (Housing Outreach and Education Program) & Community Organizer

Heartland Alliance, Housing Locator & Outreach Specialist - SSVF

H.O.M.E., Accounting and Program Evaluation Assistant

Housing Forward, Employment Training Specialist & Street Outreach Specialist

Lawyer's Committee for Better Housing, Legal Director

Metropolitan Planning Council, Various Positions

Mid Central Community Action Agency, Income Support Coach

NAMI Illinois, Executive Director

NHS of Chicago, Various Positions

Northside Community Resources, Multicultural Resources Program Assistant

Respond Now, Housing Counselor

The Resurrection Project, Various Positions

Safer Foundation, Public Policy Analyst

Shriver Center, President and Chief Executive OfficerDirector of Housing Justice

Spanish Coalition for Housing, Development and Programs Analyst

Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development, Executive Director

Housing Action Illinois
67 E. Madison Street, Suite 1603 | Chicago, Illinois 60603

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