Housing Policy
 

There are multiple housing needs facing Illinois residents.  Whether it’s first-time homebuyer assistance, mortgage foreclosure prevention, affordable rental housing or permanent supportive housing, the state has an important role to play. As a result of the Comprehensive Housing Planning Act that I sponsored (Public Act 94-965), the state now develops an annual comprehensive housing plan.  (click here for 2007 Comprehensive Housing Plan) Visit the IL Housing Development Authority's website to see interim and annual progress reports on the Comprehensive Plan.  I serve on the Governor’s Housing Task Force which oversees that plan.   


Legislation in the General Assembly

Current 2008 bills

 

Relocation Assistance – HB 5170
STATUS: Placed on second reading

The Relocation Assistance Act would require landlords to provide relocation assistance to tenants forced from their homes when there is a court order to vacate a building due to dangerous and unhealthy conditions caused by the landlord. 

 

Mortgage Foreclosure Assistance – HB 4611

STATUS: Passed House 115-0; placed on Senate calendar for third reading
An initiative of the AFL-CIO, the Housing Stabilization Act would direct the Illinois Housing Development Authority to establish and administer a program under which the State would guarantee refinancing loans to homeowners who are either in foreclosure or at risk of being in foreclosure. 

 

Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Fund  - HB 5788

STATUS: Placed on House calendar for third reading

The Foreclosure Prevention Counseling Fund would be funded through a surcharge for all licensees under the Residential Mortgage Licensing Act to make grants to HUD-certified counseling agencies for home-ownership education and foreclosure prevention counseling.

 

Landlord Advance Entry Notice – HB 4352

STATUS: Passed House 113-2; referred to Senate Rules Committee

A landlord would be able to enter a tenant’s unit only after providing reasonable notice and at reasonable times, except in cases of emergency or practical necessity.  A tenant would not be allowed to unreasonably withhold consent to the landlord to enter the unit to make necessary or agreed repairs or improvements; to supply services; to conduct required inspections; to exhibit the unit to purchasers or contractors; to exhibit the unit to prospective tenants 60 days or less prior to the lease end; for practical necessity for repairs or maintenance that unexpectedly require access; to determine a tenant's compliance with the lease; or in case of emergency.

Laws Enacted

 

2006

IL Comprehensive Housing Planning Act

Safe Homes Act

2005

Rental Support Program Act

Affordable Housing Donation Tax Credit

Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal

2004

Federally Subsidized Housing Preservation Act

Residential Tenants Right to Repair Act

Older Adult Services Act

2003

Executive Order #18: Illinois Housing Initiative (Inspired by HB 2345)

Affordable Housing and Appeal Act

Housing Opportunity Area Abatement Program

1999

Homelessness Prevention Act

 

 


Rental Support Program

I’m proud to have sponsored the Illinois Rental Housing Support program – the nation’s largest state rental assistance program.  The program will provide rental housing subsidies for low-income people and families statewide.  The program will only cover rent – not security deposits, emergency rental assistance, utility payments or other costs related to housing. 

 

The program will fully be implemented in 2008 after several years of planning, rules and regulations, Requests for Proposal to select “Local Administering Agencies” and funding collections – $10 every time a deed or mortgage document is filed at a Recorder of Deeds office in every county (about $25 million total statewide).

 

In the City of Chicago, the program is administered by the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund.  For more information, contact the City of Chicago, Department of Housing (click here)

 

In all other areas of the state, the program will be administered by Local Administering Agencies (L.A.A.) on contract with the IL Housing Development Authority. For information click here. 

 

If you are looking for assistance with Rental Housing Support, click here. 

 

Current program status:
There have been 14 Local Administering Agencies approved around the state.  13 of these agencies are in the process of setting up the mechanisms necessary to dispense the funds and operate the program.  Currently, there is  one agency accepting calls regarding applications for suburban Cook County (for more information click here).  IHDA is signing contracts with all 14 agencies  on June 1st.  There will be two more rounds in which additional agencies can apply to be a L.A.A. 


Restructuring the Long-Term Care System

 

In order to fully serve the housing needs of two priority underserved populations in the state’s housing plan -- low-income seniors and persons with disabilities – it is important to transform the entire system of long-term care (LTC). 

 

In the past, Illinois made substantial investments primarily in LTC beds in “institutional” settings, such as state-operated facilities and nursing homes.  However, in 1999 the U.S. Supreme Court, in Olmstead v. L.C. Ex Rel. Zimring (119 S. Ct. 2176), held that states must allow persons with disabilities to move to the least restrictive setting that is appropriate to their desires, needs and capacity.  Illinois has not yet fully implemented this landmark decision and there are three class action lawsuits pending related to the Olmstead decision.

 

To restructure LTC, we must consider all levels of care available in residential settings for seniors and persons with disabilities.  Click here for Table I and Table II of the November, 2007 Long-Term Care Report to the General Assembly, with the number and type of licensed and/or certified LTC facilities and beds. 

 

In addition to these LTC facilities and beds, the state provides residential programs:

 

For seniors:  Supportive Living Facilities (SLF), Comprehensive Care in Residential Settings (CCRS) and home-based services through the Community Care Program. 

  

For persons with mental illness:  State-operated facilities, Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMD), mental health CILAs, supported residential programs, supervised residential programs, and permanent supportive housing.

 

For persons with developmental disabilities:  State-operated facilities, group homes or CILAs, and home-based services.

 

A committee hearing of the House Appropriations-Human Services committee was held on February 15, 2008 to review the status of long-term care restructuring in Illinois.  The following documents with pertinent state data were distributed and are available here:

 

Department of Healthcare and Family Services  

• Comparison of Medicaid waivers
• Supportive Living Facilities liability
•

Nursing home liability and nursing home days

• Census data for persons with serious mental illness (SMI) in HFS-funded nursing facilities, IMDs

 

Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health

• Census data and budget for persons with mental illness in DHS-funded residential servicesComparison of Medicaid waivers
• State hospital census data
•

 Restructuring activities

                                    

 Department of Aging

• Essential elements of LTC reform
• Older Adult Services Act elements and achievements
•

Restructuring activities

• Enhanced transition/Home Again
• Alternative senior services
• Cash and counseling
• Community Care Program
• IDOA next efforts and interagency efforts