colorful houses in a row

October 2022 Newsletter: Housing Matters Conference | Policy Focus | Housing Counselor Dispatch | Staff Update |
Learning & Networking | What We're Sharing | Jobs

 

2022 Housing Matters Sold Out

We're looking forward to gathering in person next week in Bloomington, IL for our annual Housing Matters Conference! We're pleased to say the event has hit capacity, and we're excited to see new and familiar faces as we gather to celebrate our 35th Anniversary, spark connections, get the latest updates, and share ideas.

Registrants can start planning their experience by viewing our online program »

 

Thank You to Our Sponsors: Platinum: JPMorgan Chase & Co.Gold: Midland States Bank Silver: Associated Bank • Old National Bank • PNC • US Bank • Zillow Bronze: Ameren Partner: Cinnaire • Federal Home Loan Bank of  Chicago • Self-Help Federal Credit Union • Wintrust Friend: Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen • HomeLight

Thank You to Our Keystone Supporters: 360 Youth Services • Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County • Chicago Community Loan Fund • Chicago Rehab Network • Community Partners for Affordable Housing • Cornerstone CDC • CSH • Dispute Resolution Institute • Dove, Inc. • IFF • Illinois Housing Council • INCIL • Respond Now • South Suburban Housing Center • Spanish Coalition for Housing • Springfield Housing Authority • SILC • Together We Cope • Will County Habitat for Humanity • Woodstock Institute • ZION Development

 

Policy Focus

National Call-In Day Today: Ask Congress for Increased Housing Investments

State and local governments and the communities they serve rely on federal resources to meet the housing, homelessness, and community development needs of their communities. However, Congress has underfunded these resources for decades. We're joining our partners at National Low Income Coalition for a national call-in day today, October 12, to urge members of Congress Urge to support key priorities in Fiscal Year 2023, including full funding for the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance program, $5 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund to preserve public housing, $5.04 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund, and $3.6 billion for the Homeless Assistance Grants program.

Call or message your legislator now »

 

Federal Legislation to Strengthen the CRA Introduced

While communities and advocates await a final regulation from federal Community Reinvestment Action (CRA) agencies, the House Financial Services Committee has introduced a legislative proposal to address statutory concerns. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, introduced the Making Communities Stronger Through the Community Reinvestment Act (H.R. 8833) to end modern-day redlining by making key reforms to the CRA. The aim of this proposed legislation is to more equitably drive significant resources to community developers in the hardest-to-reach communities.

 

Key Changes to the Violence Against Women Act Go into Effect

Key changes to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) went into effect on October 1. Previous iterations of VAWA covered only certain federal housing programs, such as the Housing Choice Voucher and Tenant-Based Rental Assistance programs. The reauthorized VAWA expands housing protections for survivors in other federally subidized homes, including “catch-all” language to ensure all survivors living in federally assisted housing for low- and moderate-income households are covered by VAWA protections. Importantly, the act prohibits retaliation and penalties against a survivor for reporting criminal activity to the police. This prohibition extends to state and local governments with local “crime free rental housing ordinances” and similar ordinances receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.

 
 

Housing Counselor Dispatch

Three Agencies, Countless Possibilities

At the end of September, Regions Bank announced a $20,000 donation to Housing Action Illinois that will be sub-granted to support three affordable housing initiatives throughout the state. This community collaboration supports housing programs and resources for at-risk and low-income families served by the Embaras River Basin Agency, the Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council, Inc., and the C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation. Each organization is an established community partner of Housing Action Illinois.

"Housing Action Illinois builds the capacity of organizations to better meet the housing needs of people across Illinois,” said David Young, Housing Action's Director of Capacity Building. “Regions Bank’s donation allows us to focus on supporting organizations in Central and Southern Illinois, which have many of the same housing issues as other areas but often cannot secure additional funding.”

Learn more »

 

Housing Counseling Career Path in Spanish

This fall, we're offering our Housing Counseling Career Path training in Spanish! Learn what you need to start your housing counseling career and prepare for the HUD Individual Certification Exam. Register today:

 
 

Welcoming Mare Ralph as Housing Policy Organizer

Housing Action is excited to welcome Mare Ralph as a Housing Policy Organizer, a role change that officially started this October. Mare first joined Housing Action Illinois as a National Service Program Associate in June 2021. Prior to joining our team, they completed a year of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA at Kentucky Youth Career Center and worked as a teacher, mentor, and restorative justice facilitator while in Kentucky. They returned to Chicago for graduate school and interned at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law while earning a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Mare has organized space for queer and transgender youth as a co-founder of Girls Rock Louisville and currently sits on Girls Rock! Chicago’s Board of Directors and the Girls Rock Camp Alliance’s Caucus Advisory Council. They also participate in mutual aid with Market Box. They live in South Shore with their partner, dog, and many cats.

 
 

Learning & Networking 

Events from us, our members, funders, and organizations to which we belong. Submit your listing »

Hosted by CSH
HRSA Harm Reduction is Healthcare, 10/19: Register

Hosted by CRN
Community Empowerment Workshop Series - Finance Skills for Real Estate, starting 10/27: Register

2022 Housing Matters Conference, 10/20–10/21: Sold out

How to Make Your Case for Funding your Program, 12/6: Register

See all Housing Action events »

 

What We're Sharing

The Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income program is now accepting applications. The County will provide $500 monthly unrestricted cash payments to 3,250 households for two years, beginning in December 2022. Apply by 10/21/22. (resource)

Cook County Commission on Human Rights has released a 2022 survey on the efficacy of the Just Housing Amendment to the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance. Respondents will be entered into a raffle for $25 Target gift cards. Submit by 10/30/22. (survey)

The City of Chicago's "We Will Chicago" initiative has released a draft of the city plans to advance neighborhood growth and vibrancy. The draft of the plan is available for public comment, and you can provide feedback by completing the Housing and Neighborhoods survey survey. Deadline 11/1/22. (survey)

IHDA: Next Generation Capacity Building for BIPOC Developers Request for Applications will fund loans, training and technical assistance for BIPOC owned or led CDFIs. Apply by 11/18/22. (funding opportunity)

HUD: CoC Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity (deadline 10/20/22), Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (11/7/22), Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program (deadline 1/25/23). (funding opportunity)

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) supports community-controlled, self-help organizations and transformative education through Community Development and Economic Development grants that range from $25,000 to $75,000. Apply by 11/1/22. (funding opportunity)

 

Who's Hiring

Jobs from Housing Action, our members, funders, and organizations to which we belong. Submit your opening »

All Chicago, Community Partnerships Associate & Shelter Diversion Specialist

Garfield Park Community Council, Development and Communications Manager

Habitat for Humanity Chicago, Homeownership Programs Manager

HANA Center, Education & Outreach Coordinator & Social Services Director

H.O.M.E., Director of Development & Resident Assistant

Housing Forward, Case Manager, Housing

Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services, Staff Attorney (Community Lawyer)

LUCHA, Project Manager & Property Manager

Phoenix Community Development Services, Homeless Outreach/Housing Specialist

SHPA, Director of Policy and Advocacy & Illinois SOAR Statewide Coordinator

YWCA Metro Chicago, Various

Housing Action Illinois is collaborating with the National Housing Resource Center (NHRC) to expand the field of housing counseling, and NHRC has launched a jobs board to match HUD-certified housing counselors and agencies with open positions. Find or post a housing counseling position at HousingCounselingCareer.org »

 

We are stronger together. Join us in the fight to create an Illinois where everyone has a good, stable place to call home.

 

Housing Action Illinois
67 E. Madison Street, Suite 1603 | Chicago, Illinois 60603
312-939-6074 | communications@housingactionil.org

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