The Housing Authority of Cook County also known as the HACC, is the second largest public housing authority in Illinois. The HACC is a municipal corporation that was established in 1946 to serve 108 communities, as well as unincorporated areas in suburban Cook County. The Housing Authority of Cook County administers several rent assistance programs to meet the housing needs of our rental participants. The HACC’s conventional public housing program consists of over 2,100 owned units of low-income housing. The Rent Assistance Division services over 13,000 families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. Other programs such as our Mobility Assistance Program, Family Self-Sufficiency Program, and Home Ownership Program are designed to make a positive difference and help participants achieve independence. The HACC believes that, with the partnership of public and private resources, the goal of providing safe and desirable housing in viable communities, for all County residents can be successfully accomplished.
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COOK COUNTY BOARD PASSES SOURCE OF INCOME (SOI)
PROTECTIONS FOR VOUCHER HOLDERS
On May 8, 2013 the Cook County Board of Commissioners, in a landmark vote to end discriminatory housing practices throughout Suburban Cook County, voted to pass the Source of Income Amendment to the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance. The amendment passed with 9 votes in favor and 6 against.
There are many misconceptions about how the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program works, particularly as it pertains to working with the Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC). “The passage of Source of Income (SOI) Protection means that the Housing Choice Voucher Program offers real choice, regardless of income or where you want to live. This measure levels the playing field. It provides equal access for all”, says the HACC’s Executive Director, Richard Monocchio. Over 13,000 renters in Cook County receive housing choice vouchers and over 6,000 landlords participate in the program. The HACC has made drastic improvements in the administration of the HCV Program over the past few years. If you would like more information on how you can become a landlord in the HACC’s HCV Program, please contact Jackie Hodges at (312) 542-4659 or email landlord@thehacc.org.
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BUDGET CUTS IMPOSE DEEP CUTS IN HOUSING PROGRAMS
Public Housing Authorities were severely impacted by federal budget cuts in March 2013. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s budget was slashed by 5.1%. Since PHAs are funded almost exclusively by HUD, these cuts have reverberated throughout the nation. The Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) lost $8.3 million in funding. These cuts will impact both the public housing communities owned by HACC, as well as the voucher program it administers.
More ominously, this comes on the heels of last years’ $1 million cut to public housing programs nationally. HACC’s share of this loss was $2 million. This year, $7 million was cut from the Housing Assistance Program (HAP), the fund used to pay landlords rent. Many housing authorities have been forced to terminate housing assistance for current voucher holders. In Cook County, that action will not have to be taken, at least at this point. However, no new vouchers will be granted to people on the waiting list, many of whom have been waiting over twelve years for assistance.
Another $1.3 million was cut from operational funds. This will impact everything from processing new tenants, remodeling vacant units, completing work orders, and personnel.
‘Housing programs have been cut steadily over the past decade,’ said HACC Executive Director, Richard Monocchio. Personnel and programs have been cut back over time as a result. But this year, the cuts hit like a machete. This will have a profound impact on the people we serve,” said Mr. Monocchio.
Up to 700 very low income households will not receive housing vouchers as a result of these cutbacks. In addition, much needed maintenance and repairs to the existing housing will be reduced. Currently, HACC’s 2,000 public housing units have nearly $100 million in unmet capital needs.
“We are committed to keeping every current resident housed,” said Mr. Monocchio. “But there can be no doubt that the level of services will be impacted by these cuts, and felt by every resident.”
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MEDICAID PROGRAM FOR UNINSURED ADULTS IN COOK COUNTY
The Housing Authority of Cook County and the Cook County Health and Hospital Systems (CCHHS) have partnered to ensure that those in need of medical care are able to receive the assistance that they so desperately need. CountyCare is a new program for uninsured adults who are 19-64 years of age, living in Cook County and those that qualify for CountyCare will have access to services such as public transportation, family planning, physicians, dental visits, mental health services, inpatient AND outpatient hospital services and much more!
Please see below for a link to the CCHHS website to find out more about this exciting new program and for a quick overview of the program, see the flyers below.
Click here for more information.
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