| We have spent years working with allies to pass fair housing protections for people with arrest and conviction records in Cook County, so we are very excited to announce that on April 25 the Cook County Board of Commissioners took a major step towards supporting justice, fairness, and families by passing the Just Housing Amendment. This measure will ensure housing providers in Cook County do not discriminate against housing applicants with records. | | Insert hidden preheader text here | | Home is the cornerstone from which people build better lives for themselves and their families. People with arrest or criminal records, like everyone else, deserve a place to call home—but it can be almost impossible for them to find an apartment or house to rent. | | We're getting together on March 26 to eat, drink, and stand up for housing justice, and you're invited! Let's get out of the office, relax with friends and family, and place bids on some special gifts from our large selection of silent auction and raffle items. A few highlights include: | | | | |  | May 2019 Newsletter: Policy Focus | Housing Counselor Dispatch | What We're Sharing | Learning & Networking | Jobs | | | | | | Policy Focus Just Housing Amendment will Protect Over 1 Million Residents of Cook County from Housing Discrimination We have spent years working with allies to pass fair housing protections for people with arrest and conviction records in Cook County, so we are very excited to announce that on April 25 the Cook County Board of Commissioners took a major step towards supporting justice, fairness, and families by passing the Just Housing Amendment. This measure will ensure housing providers in Cook County do not discriminate against housing applicants with records. | | | | | | We're Closer Than Ever to a Fair Tax for Illinois A Fair Tax will bolster our economy and raise billions of dollars in revenue to fund schools and social services, including programs that end homelessness—all while helping ensure the wealthy pay their fair share. A more just tax system is long overdue. We have a script to help you make a quick call and urge your representative to support a Fair Tax. Time is running out—lend your voice today! | | | | | | | | | | Housing Counselor Dispatch Rental Counseling Training (Chicago & Springfield) These days Americans are not only renting longer, but in some cases prefer renting to buying a home. Join us for a 3-day training in Chicago or Springfield to develop the skills to create a rental counseling program or deepen your knowledge and enhance your current program. | | | | | | June is National Homeownership Month—Let's Spread the Word Homeownership was always a staple of the American Dream. But is it right for everyone? And if it is the right fit, how should one approach buying and sustaining a home? June is National Homeownership Month and we’ve created a free tool kit to help you spread the word. Sign up to receive the full tool kit, which includes social media posts, emails, graphics, and an original informational video. | | | | | | Congratulations to ERBA A longtime member of our Intermediary network, Embarras River Basin Agency (ERBA), was recently awarded a $17,500 grant from State Farm to support their new budget and disaster preparedness workshops in ERBA’s nine counties of Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Jasper Lawrence, and Richland. We're excited to see ERBA collaborate with State Farm and its agents on this new opportunity. Does your organization have any exciting news you'd like us to share? | | | | | | | | | | What We're Sharing News The Just Housing Amendment passed, and it's been making headlines. Check out the Chicago Tribune's take, Chief Sponsor Commissioner Johnson's point of view in the Sun-Times, a discussion of the measure on WBEZ's Morning Shift, a national perspective in Next City, and an op ed in Crain's Chicago Business from a landlord on why she is all for the new law. Our Policy Director, Bob Palmer, and our Director of Capacity Building, David Young, recently joined ABC 7 Chicago's Newsviews to talk about the need for affordable housing in Chicagoland and beyond. Funding & Resources The Youth Homelessness Innovation Fund, which will award a total of $500,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations or collaborations proposing activities that promote bold, disruptive, and transformation solutions to promote housing stability for young people. Up to 10 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies seeking to provide housing counseling for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage are being offered free technical assistance and default training by Housing Opportunities Provided for the Elderly. Complete the application and submit it to brendagrauer@sbcglobal.net by May 24 for consideration. The Chicago Prize will award a $10 million award to a single initiative on the South and/or West Side of Chicago that uses physical development and revitalization to create and strengthen civic infrastructure. $23.8 million has been allocated to the Federal Home Loan of Bank of Chicago's 2019 competitive Affordable Housing Program. Learn more and apply by June 14. | | | | | | Learning & Networking See full Housing Action Illinois trainings calendar or general events calendar. Cook County Commissioners May Listening Tour (Chicago, multiple dates): Learn more How Evictions Impact Chicago Renters & Neighborhoods - 5/16 (Chicago): Register If Your 990 Could Talk - 5/16 (Online): Register Chicago Coalition for the Homeless Showcase - 5/21 (Chicago): Register 30 Day Compliance Challenge - 5/30 (Online): Register  Fundamentals of Rental Housing Counseling Training 5/21 - 5/23 (Chicago): Register Dealing with Property of Elderly and Deceased Mortgagors - 6/11 (Online): Register Fundamentals of Rental Housing Counseling Training 7/16 - 7/18 (Springfield): Register Chicago Rehab Network 2019 Community Development + Empowerment Series (Chicago, multiple dates): 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 more than 60 summer and full-year VISTA positions open for candidates who want to serve their community with us or one of our member organizations. See our VISTA positions » Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio, Executive Director All Chicago, President and CEO Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation, Resource Development Manager Bright Endeavors, Social Enterprise Director Community Organizing and Family Issues, Development Coordinator DuPage PADS, Activity Manager Heartland Alliance, Director of Policy H.O.M.E., Good Life Coordinator & Home Repair Specialist Illinois Partners, Executive Director La Casa Norte, Executive Director Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing, Rentervention Counsel Metropolitan Family Services, Staff Attorney Metropolitan Planning Counseling, Manager of Finance and Corporate Partnerships Mid Central Community Action Agency, Financial Coach/Housing Counselor The Resurrection Project, Various Positions Shriver Center, Individual Giving Associate Spanish Coalition for Housing, Various Positions South Suburban Housing Center, Fair Housing Investigations Test Coordinator South Suburban PADS, Permanent Supportive Housing & Rapid Rehousing Case Managers | | | | | | Housing Action Illinois
67 E. Madison Street Suite 1603 | Chicago, Illinois 60603 | | | | | | | | | | | |
