State sets public hearings on application to HUD for $70 million in annual funds

[SEPT. 25, 2004]  CHICAGO -- Public hearings have been scheduled statewide in an annual ritual that yields nearly $70 million in federal funds to support housing-related activities across Illinois. The Illinois Housing Development Authority, in coordination with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and other state agencies, announces the completion and availability of the proposed "Consolidated Plan for Calendar Year 2005-2009." A 30-day public comments period begins Sept. 28, and three public hearings have been scheduled across the state for interested parties and the general public.

The plan serves as the state's annual funding application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for formula grant programs, including the Community Development Block Grant, the HOME Investment Partnerships program, the Emergency Shelter Grants program, and the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS program. Additionally, the plan sets forth priorities for the state's housing and non-housing community development needs for 2005-2009, highlights all known funding projections for 2005 under all major federal and state housing programs, and includes the housing and homeless needs assessment, housing market analysis, strategic plan, action plan, developer certifications and comments from Illinois citizens.

In September 2003, through Executive Order 18, Gov. Blagojevich identified affordable housing as one of his top priorities and created an Affordable Housing Task Force charged with developing a comprehensive housing plan to identify affordable housing development, preservation and rehabilitation initiatives in all regions of the state. The task force will submit a Comprehensive Housing Plan to the governor and General Assembly by the end of the year. That plan will incorporate many components of the proposed application for federal funding.

Approximately 600 copies of the funding proposal are being distributed across the state and will be available to the public at designated libraries throughout the state, including the state's library network. Copies can also be accessed on the Internet at www.ihda.org.

The three public hearings scheduled during the 30-day public comments period are to solicit comments on the state's priorities and its allocation of funds. All sites are fully accessible to people with physical disabilities. The schedule is as follows:

1. Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1 p.m.
   Chicago - IHDA
   Ninth Floor (reception)
   401 North Michigan Ave., Chicago

2. Thursday, Oct. 5, 6 p.m.
   Marion - State Regional Office Building
   Conference Room
   2309 W. Main St., Marion

3. Wednesday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m.
   State Capitol Building
   Room 122B
   500 S. Second St., Springfield

The public is invited to provide public comments prior to, at or after these scheduled hearings. Individuals who wish to give oral testimony or comments at any of these hearings must register prior to the start of each public hearing and are encouraged to bring a written summary of their comments to the public hearings to ensure that their concerns receive a written response from the state. The time allotted to each respondent may be limited, based on the number of individuals registered to speak. Written comments, with or without oral testimony, will be collected at each hearing and may also be mailed directly to Illinois Housing Development Authority afterward. To be considered, the agency must receive all written public comments by the close of business on Oct. 28.

Written comments should be sent to the following:

Illinois Housing Development Authority
Office of Housing Coordination Services
Attention: Consolidated Plan
401 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60611

Hearing-impaired and sight-impaired individuals in need of services such as an interpreter or documents in large print or Braille should make requests directly to the Housing Development Authority at the telephone numbers below at least three days before the hearing which they plan to attend. Officials will make reasonable efforts to accommodate such requests. To obtain additional information concerning these public hearings, please call [phone] or [phone] TTY

About the Illinois Housing Development Authority

The Illinois Housing Development Authority was designated as the lead state entity for developing the Consolidated Plan in 1994.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority is a self-supporting state agency that finances the creation and the preservation of affordable housing across Illinois. Since its creation by an act of the Illinois legislature in 1967, the agency has allocated more than $6 billion and financed more than 150,000 units of affordable housing across the state. The agency accomplishes its mission through a number of federal and state funding sources, including the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the state's Donations Tax Credit Fund, the allocation of federal low-income housing tax credits, HOME Investment Partnership funds and others. The agency is also a bonding authority and independently sells bonds, based on its own good credit, to finance affordable housing across the state.

[Illinois Housing Development Authority
news release]