Raise the Roof: CHA's Monthly Newsletter March 2024

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CHA NEWSLETTER | MARCH 2024

CHA BOARD APPROVES FUNDING FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF LATHROP

CHA’s Board of Commissioners approved funding for Phase IC of the Lathrop redevelopment at March’s Board Meeting. This long-awaited third phase will focus on the Lathrop South campus (south of Diversey Avenue) and will address all remaining vacant buildings on the Lathrop site.

As part of project, Lathrop Community Partners will rehabilitate seven existing historic buildings on the site, while three existing buildings will be demolished to add an accessible new construction building with an elevator, as well as additional parking and open space. Altogether, the project will add a total of 309 new or renovated mixed-income apartments to the campus.

Final closing on funding and construction start are expected for the fourth quarter of 2024, with project completion at the end of 2026.

“This board action brings us one step closer to completing our vision for the new Lathrop: a vibrant and sustainable mixed-income, mixed-use community where all families, including those who live in subsidized housing, feel welcome and can thrive,” said CHA CEO Tracey Scott.

BIG NEWS FOR CHA IN THE FY2024 FEDERAL SPENDING BILL

CHA applauds the Federal FY2024 Spending Bill that was signed by President Biden earlier this month. The bill includes $850,000 for each of two CHA projects located on the South Side: Legends South Phase A3 in Bronzeville, and LeClaire, near Midway Airport.

At Legends South, Phase A3 will add 52 apartments and neighborhood retail space in two new buildings. The new buildings will complement the 841 mixed-income apartments already on the site. The LeClaire site is the future home of a mixed- income, mixed use community, which will deliver approximately 650 apartments, plus a grocery store, federally qualified medical center and early childhood center. It is the largest neighborhood revitalization effort on the Southwest Side.

The Spending Bill also extended HUD’s Moving to Work (MTW) agreements through 2038. As a Moving to Work agency, CHA has flexibility to create innovative local partnerships that expand housing choices and opportunities for the families and individuals it serves.

CHA CEO Tracey Scott praised the move, saying: “This extension provides further stability in CHA’s funding and enhances our attractiveness as an affordable housing partner that can make long-term investments in our communities. And for our residents, it ensures that we can flexibly provide nearly $40 million per year in supports such as Golden Diners free meal programs in senior buildings and summer employment for 2,200 CHA youth.”

MAJOR RENOVATION AT BROOKS HOMES IN PROGRESS

For the first time in nearly 25 years, CHA is undertaking a major renovation project at Brooks Homes, part of the ABLA campus on the near west side. The renovation includes interior updates and upgrades in all 330 apartments, new roofs, new doors and windows, and new landscaping, sidewalks and streets.

As of this month, the roofing portion of the project is completed. Interior renovations are set to begin this spring and will take place in eight phases, allowing residents to relocate from their current apartment into a newly renovated apartment within the Brooks Homes campus. The full renovation is scheduled to be finished in the spring of 2027.

RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT:

7 CHA RESIDENTS BECOME COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

Seven CHA residents recently became Certified Community Health Workers (CHW) after completing a rigorous training program that included 100 hours of instruction and an 80-hour practicum.

The Council on Black Health partnered with the Chicago Housing Authority to identify and recruit residents for the CHW program, which is designed to improve the health and wellness of underserved communities across the U.S. As trusted frontline workers who live and work in the areas they serve, CHWs play a critical role in informing, advocating for, and connecting community members to healthcare resources.

Lorne Green, CHA’s Director of Workforce Opportunities, said: “CHA’s Workforce Opportunity Resource Center (WORC) provides CHA residents with the tools and resources they need to explore new career opportunities and achieve their dreams. Through this partnership with the Council on Black Health, these seven new Community Health Workers can create much-needed change in reducing health disparities facing Black communities while at the same time advancing their own personal career goals.”

Graduate Yashminda White praised the program, saying, “This certification means that I am in a better position to be a resource and of assistance to my community and the surrounding communities. We, as Black people and People of Color, are the most vulnerable to disparities, so this program helps us identify those things so we have a better understanding of what to tackle.”

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

TAKE OUR WEBSITE SURVEY

The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) is interested in your experience on our website, www.thecha.org.

We have created a short, secure survey to understand what tasks on the website are most important to you. It should take no more than 5 minutes to complete.

The results from this survey will be used to make improvements to CHA’s website. Your responses will be completely anonymous unless you choose to submit your email address to take part in future CHA research at the end of the survey.

Please note that participation in this survey or other research

activities is entirely optional and has no impact on your housing or waitlist status.

The survey will close on April 21, 2024. Thank you for participating!

Take the survey now by clicking here.

CHA CEO TRACEY SCOTT JOINS THE BOARD OF THE CORPORATION FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

CHA CEO Tracey Scott was recently named to the 18-member Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) Board of Directors.

Founded in 1991, CSH advances affordable and accessible housing aligned with services by advocating for effective policies and funding, equitably investing in communities, and strengthening the supportive housing field. CSH has been the only national nonprofit intermediary focused solely on increasing the availability of supportive housing. Over the last 35 years, CSH has distributed more than $1.5 billion in loans and grants in more than 300 cities across 48 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands making home a reality for over 200,000 individuals and families who have regained hope and dignity.

Since 2020, Scott has been chief executive officer of CHA – the nation’s third-largest housing authority serving more than 65,000 families. CEO Scott also serves on the board of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, as President of the MTW Collaborative and on the advisory board of the Stuart Handler Department of Real Estate at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

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