Chicago housing
assistance programs provide affordable homes for individuals and families.
Chicago residents can find housing assistance offered by local governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations. Housing services include a range of assistance, such as foreclosure avoidance counseling, housing subsidies, emergency housing and transitional housing for homeless individuals and families. Organizations administer assistance through direct counseling, case management and educational workshops. Housing assistance guidelines vary, depending on the program, and can limit services based on availability of housing or budget constraints.
Chicago Housing Authority
The Chicago Housing Authority, a governmental agency, offers public housing and housing subsidies for low-income residents. Public housing properties offer homes in mixed-income apartment developments, apartment communities specifically for senior citizens and traditional public housing developments. The Housing Authority also administers the federal government's Housing Choice Voucher Program, often referred to as the Section 8 program. The program provides subsidy vouchers, which clients can use to obtain housing from the private market. Voucher recipients must pay a portion of their monthly rent and the Chicago Housing Authority pays the remainder.
Single Room Housing Assistance Corporation
The Single Room Housing Assistance Corporation (SRHAC) helps disabled and homeless individuals obtain permanent housing in single-occupancy units. SRHAC also provides case management services, which include job counseling, rent-subsidies and self-sufficiency skills training. Established in 1999, the SRHAC operates with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities, a nonprofit organization, operates multiple housing assistance programs, including the Bridge Subsidy Program. The Bridge Subsidy Program provides rental assistance for mentally ill residents. The Family Shelter Program offers temporary housing for families for up to three months and provides counseling and referrals to other social services programs. Catholic Charities also operates the New Hope Apartments program, which provides housing to homeless families for up to two years. Services provided by the New Hope Apartments program include rental assistance, child care, transportation and employment assistance.
Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County
The Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA), which services suburban Cook County, offers multiple housing assistance programs, including group and one-on-one mortgage default counseling. CEDA programs can help clients restructure debt, request a mortgage loan referral or manage household spending. CEDA also operates the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which offers rental assistance and mortgage payment assistance for suburban Cook County residents.
Spanish Coalition for Housing
The Spanish Coalition for Housing, a nonprofit organization, offers housing counseling for low-income residents. Counseling services can help clients avoid foreclosure, obtain information about the Chicago Housing Authority, understand mortgage loans or avoid the pitfalls of reverse mortgage programs.
Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago
Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS), founded in 1975, provides foreclosure avoidance services and home loan programs. Certified by HUD to provide housing counseling services, the Neighborhood Housing Services offers weekly foreclosure prevention workshops in multiple Chicago area locations. Its Home Improvement Loans program offers funding for home repairs through Neighborhood Lending Services. Homeowners can obtain fixed-rate loans to make improvements such as roof replacement, kitchen improvement, electrical repairs, central air-conditioning installation, heating system replacement or siding installation.
Tags: Housing Authority, Chicago Housing, Chicago Housing Authority, Cook County, assistance programs, Catholic Charities, housing assistance
