2007-01-25 18:59:43

Affordable Housing In DuPage County

An Environmental Scan of the Web

By John Bagley

DuPage County, Illinois is served by a rich civil society and several layers of government. If DuPage United is to become a player in the affordable housing arena, prudence dictates that we identify the other players: both potential allies and potential rivals for resources (people and money). The following list is ordered semi-randomly and contains links to the institutions and organizations I have been able to identify. Bear in mind that:

• there may be other groups that do not have a web presence and so are not included and

• the web content may be inaccurate or outdated and is no substitute for personal contact.

The entries are in a form that I've found useful for Internet research. Please let me know of any errors or omissions.

1. The DuPage Housing Action Coalition (DHAC) is a network with broad-based grassroots participation that advocates for affordable and fair housing in DuPage County.

2. The mission of Housing Action Illinois is to increase and preserve the supply of decent, affordable, accessible housing in Illinois for low-and moderate-income households. They have 145 organizational members as of 11/07/06 including the DuPage County Department of Human Resources, People's Resource Center, Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet, HOPE Fair Housing Center, DuPage PADS, and DuPage Housing Action Coalition (DHAC). No IAF organizations are listed among their members.

3. HousingMatters.net mobilizes individuals who support quality, fair, accessible and affordable housing for people in Illinois and the organizations actively working toward such goals. The action alerts that you will receive will help you stay informed on the most critical housing issues facing our state and give you powerful tools to directly contact decision makers quickly and effectively.

4. BPI provides research and technical assistance to many organizations including DuPage United, Lake County United, and United Power.

5. BPI and the Statewide Housing Action Coalition convene the Illinois Housing Roundtable, a monthly meeting of housing advocates, to increase communication among these organizations and identify opportunities for common work. It provides an excellent opportunity to share information about legislative priorities, effective programs and future initiatives.

6. The Community Housing Association of DuPage (CHAD) is a non-profit organization dedicated to maintaining affordable housing in DuPage County.

7. The DuPage County Homeownership Center was created in 1991 as both a nonprofit charity and as a public-private partnership of financial institutions, Realtors, government and social service agencies. The center's mission is to provide realistic solutions that will allow individuals and families to purchase homes, and to keep their homes, in the DuPage housing market.

8. Since 1975, the DuPage Senior Citizens Council (DSCC) has been helping the senior citizen population of DuPage County. DSCC is a not-for-profit, community based, volunteer driven agency, devoted to enriching senior life. The DSCC's Home Maintenance Program was developed in 1991 to help seniors maintain their homes.

9. The purpose of the DuPage County Human Services Housing Assistance Program is to link the family or individual to services that may prevent homelessness. These services may include financial assistance for rent or mortgage payments and referral to appropriate other sources. They have prepared the "DuPage Continuum Plan to End Homelessness" which is certainly of interest.

10. The DuPage Housing Authority administers rental assistance (Section 8) vouchers.

11. The DuPage County Community Development Commission (CDC) was established in 1975 as a cooperative effort of DuPage municipalities and the County Board. The primary responsibility of the CDC is to advise the County Board on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Funding, and Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) programs.

12. The DuPage County Regional Planning Department is a good source of demographic data.

13. Census 2000 Demographic Profiles, May 14, 2002 are available for the state of Illinois, the 9-County Chicago PMSA, the old 6-County Chicago SMSA, & each county in NIPC's service area from the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission.

14. The Institute of Government and Public Affairs also publishes demographic data.

15. The DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform has published a 34-page "Profile of the Homeless in DuPage County".

16. Founded in 1934, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of business and civic leaders committed to serving the public interest through the promotion and implementation of sensible planning and development policies necessary for an economically competitive Chicago region. MPC researches and develops policy recommendations and conducts outreach and advocacy in partnership with public officials and community leaders to enhance equity of opportunity and quality of life throughout metropolitan Chicago. "The challenges and opportunities for affordable housing in northeastern Illinois" is one of their considerations.

17. The Illinois Housing Development Authority finances the creation and the preservation of affordable housing throughout the state to increase the supply of decent and safe places for people of low or moderate means to live.

    In August of 2004, the Illinois Housing Development Authority released a list of 49 communities that must comply with the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act. Page 4 of the release gives details of the 7 DuPage County non-compliant communities.

    Professor Charles Hoch of the UIC has prepared a report: "Suburban Response to the Illinois Affordable Housing and Planning Act" that gives data about the 29 non-compliant communities (out of 49) that responded. The chart on page 17 lists land and structures available for affordable housing.

18. Chicago Metropolis 2020. This new organization continues the process started by The Commercial Club and is implementing the ideas contained in the report. Chicago Metropolis 2020 has focused on creating collaborations with other organizations and is developing a new kind of "civic entrepreneurship," in the region. They have published a document: "Homes for a Changing Region" that provides a number of recommendations for increasing housing options across the region. An additional link is to "Building for Success: Illinois' Comprehensive Housing Plan".

19. The Homeowner's Stabilization Program was the bill that was on 2004's DuPage United Action Agenda. It is/was part of IT TAKES A HOME TO RAISE A CHILD, a statewide housing campaign, assisting many working Illinois families maintain stability in housing by advocating for the development of affordable housing and homelessness prevention resources in Illinois. No IAF groups are listed among the campaign's endorsers. It was originated by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.

20. Vision: DuPage P.A.D.S. will be recognized in DuPage County for providing temporary shelter, housing and supportive services for people who are homeless in a setting that encourages responsibility, offers the opportunity for independence and self-sufficiency. We work to advocate against barriers that cause homelessness and educate the community. Vital to this commitment is our collaboration with religious and community groups in DuPage County.

21. The mission of Bridge Communities is to provide transitional housing to homeless families in DuPage County through partnering with faith-based and community organizations who provide mentoring relationships which root homeless families into local neighborhoods.

22. Senior Home Sharing is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping meet the need for affordable senior housing by providing a shared housing option. SHS group homes are located in Lombard, Downers Grove, Elmhurst and Naperville. In addition, the organization operates a four-unit senior apartment in Lombard.

23. The mission of Naperville CARES is to provide resources to people within the Naperville community who need assistance to avoid homelessness and attain self-sufficiency.

24. The Peoples' Resource Center (PRC) helps low-income DuPage County residents meet their basic needs by providing food, clothing, and rental assistance. In addition, the PRC helps to break the cycle of poverty with programs like English As A Second Language (ESL)/adult literacy, computer literacy training and access, and an art community for women called Women's Wisdom.

25. The local Habitat for Humanity group could use some clout when communities attempt to keep them out using zoning or minimum size regulations.

26. The HOPE Fair Housing Center focuses mainly on combating discrimination including economic discrimination.

27. See East Brooklyn Congregations Build Nehemiah Homes for a discussion of the way the philosophy and practice of IAF have developed since Alinsky.

28. HEAR US inc. is a national endeavor to raise awareness and sensitivity about homelessness with emphasis on its effects on children. It is based in Naperville.

29. The Illinois Coalition to End Homelessness is located in Oak Park.

30. The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated solely to ending America's affordable housing crisis. We believe that this is achievable, that the affordable housing crisis is a problem that Americans are capable of solving. While we are concerned about the housing circumstances of all low income people, we focus our advocacy on those with the most serious housing problems, the lowest income households.

31. For 75 years, the nonprofit National Housing Conference (NHC) has been the nation's premier public policy and affordable housing advocacy organization. A membership drawn from every industry segment forms the foundation for NHC's broad, nonpartisan advocacy for national policies and legislation that promote suitable housing in a safe, decent environment.

32. The Center for Housing Policy is the research affiliate of the National Housing Conference. The Center works to broaden understanding of America’s affordable housing challenges and examines the impact of policies and programs developed to address these needs.

    Combining research and practical, real-world expertise, the Center lays the groundwork for the development of concrete and politically viable policies and programs that can be used to promote affordable housing across the country.

    Nationally recognized housing experts including academics, advocates and practitioners as well as distinguished specialists from other fields are involved in the Center’s work. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that our research engages an ever widening circle of stakeholders both inside and outside the housing community.