Raise the Roof: CHA's Monthly Newsletter

CHA TAKES THE PLEDGE: WILL REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 50% AND ENERGY USE BY 15% OVER THE NEXT DECADE

This month, CHA joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge, committing to a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and 15% reduction in energy use over the next 10 years.

The U.S. Department of Energy launched the Better Climate Challenge in Fall 2021. Once committed to the Challenge, participating organizations receive technical assistance from HUD and DOE, as well as facilitated peer learning and access to subject matter experts.

“CHA is the largest housing authority to participate in the challenge, and we’re committed to making significant changes in our portfolio to mitigate the impacts of climate change and serve as a leader and resource for other public housing authorities,” said Sarah Buchhorn, CHA’s Sustainability Manager.

SARAH'S ON LAKESIDE BREAKS GROUND: CHA'S PBV INVESTMENT MEANS HOUSING SECURITY FOR 24 WOMEN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

On Thursday, June 27, CHA joined partners including Sarah’s Circle, the Chicago Department of Housing, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, 46th Ward Alderperson Angela Clay, and others for the groundbreaking of the new Sarah’s on Lakeside development. CHA will provide project-based vouchers for 24 of the 28 units in the new building which will offer permanent supportive housing in fully furnished studio apartments to women who are experiencing homelessness.

There are now 216 CHA-supported Project Based Voucher apartments under construction in buildings around the City.

RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT: JOSE SERRANO

In 1989, Jose Serrano was desperate. He was recently married and had two young daughters. He had a manufacturing job but wasn’t making ends meet. He needed a lifeline.

He got one in the form of the Chicago Housing Authority, first with a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), and then as a participant of the Choose To Own (CTO) program, where CHA residents can use their portion of the rent for a mortgage.

Today, Serrano is years removed from a public housing subsidy, having transitioned off the program and embarked on a successful property management career. And his daughters are reaping the benefits.

“We spent about eight years in the Austin house through CTO, and CHA said, ‘You don’t need us anymore. You are self-sufficient,” said Serrano, a property manager at Bickerdike Development. “My daughter then grew independent, and now she bought a condo, and I’m living in a property owned by my daughter. I’m paying her mortgage, but she’s getting equity. There’s nothing better than to help the young people.”

Serrano worked as a maintenance clerk, a leasing agent and an assistant manager while living on a CHA voucher, before landing the job at Bickerdike. He will celebrate his 17^th anniversary there in October. “CHA is the one who moved everything forward for me,” he said.

CHA HOSTS SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL HOMEOWNER FAIR

June is National Homeownership Month. CHA celebrated by hosting its inaugural Homeowner Fair

on Saturday, June 10 at BMO Tower headquarters. Nearly 100 attendees participated in the event. Participants received valuable information about homeownership, maintenance, financial literacy, estate planning and more. Four lucky winners won a $250 Lowe’s gift card. The event ended with a motivational "Fireside Chat," moderated by CHA Board Chairwoman Angela Hurlock, featuring three successful homeowners.

Hear about the event from Choose to Own homeowner Sherrie Gary by clicking the video below:

CHA EMPLOYEE JAN JONES RETIRES

AFTER 45 YEARS OF SERVICE

When Janice Jones first started working at the Chicago Housing Authority on September 12, 1977, Jimmy Carter was President of the United States, disco was at its zenith and her job as a Secretary-Stenographer required the IBM Selectric III typewriter.

On Friday, June 20, Jones walked out of the doors for the last time after 45 years and nine months of service to CHA. “It is bittersweet,” she said. “I just decided that it is time. I feel like I’ve fulfilled my duty.”

Jones retired from CHA as the Facilities Coordinator for the General Services department, but over the years she worked in many different roles and offices throughout CHA, with duties ranging from creating budgets and weekly bid schedules to assessing training needs to preparing agenda items for the Board of Commissioners.

She said she was driven all this time by a philosophy that she was always doing something to help others, as small as those deeds may have been. “I told myself, 'Whatever I do, I will do something that will make a difference for someone today,'” she said. “'Something positive will happen for someone as a result of me being here.'”

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