OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $47 MILLION TO FUND HOUSING FOR VERY LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN ILLINOIS

CHICAGO - Thousands more very low-income senior citizens and persons with disabilities throughout the country, including those in Illinois will have access to affordable supportive housing thanks to more than $47 million in housing assistance announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These grants will help non-profit organizations produce accessible housing, offer rental assistance, and facilitate supportive services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

The grant funding awarded under HUD's Sections 202 and 811 Supportive Housing programs will kick start  construction or major rehabilitation for more than 170 housing developments in 42 different states and Puerto Rico. In Illinois, more elderly households and persons with disabilities will be affordably housed with access to needed services. A detailed summary of Illinois grants is attached to this release.

"The Obama Administration is committed to helping our senior citizens and persons with disabilities find a decent, affordable place to live that is close to needed healthcare services and transportation," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "Recent bipartisan changes to these two supportive housing programs will allow us to better serve some of our more vulnerable populations who would otherwise be struggling to find a safe and decent home of their own."

"Thanks to these grants, Illinois will have 283 more units of safe, affordable and supportive housing for senior citizens and persons living with a disability, with the added benefit of creating jobs to help the local economy," said Antonio R. Riley, HUD's Midwest Regional Administrator.

Enacted early this year with strong bipartisan support, the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act and the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act provided needed enhancements and reforms to both programs. Nonprofit grant recipients will now receive federal assistance that is better leveraged and better connected to state and local health care investments, allowing greater numbers of vulnerable elderly and disabled individuals to access the housing they need even more quickly.

Section 202 Capital Advances will provide $545 million nationwide to 97 projects in 42 States and Puerto. In addition to funding the construction, acquisition, and rehabilitation of multifamily developments, HUD's Section 202 program will also provide $54 million in rental assistance so that residents only pay 30 percent of their adjusted incomes. Section 202 provides very low-income elderly persons 62 years of age or older with the opportunity to live independently in an environment that provides support services to frail elderly resident.

Section 811 Capital Advances will provide $137 million nationwide to assist very low-income persons with disabilities through 92 projects in 35 states. An additional $12.6 million will be available for project rental assistance contracts. Most of the housing supported through the Section 811 Program will be newly constructed, typically small apartment buildings, group homes for three to four persons, or condominium units that are integrated into the larger community. Residents will pay 30 percent of their adjusted income for rent and the federal government will pay the rest.

HUD's Section 811 program provides housing for households with one or more very low-income individuals with a disability. Under this program at least one person must be 18 years or older and have a physical or developmental disability or chronic mental illness. The program provides persons with disabilities the opportunity to live independently in their communities by increasing the supply of rental housing with the availability of supportive services.

HUD provides these funds to non-profit organizations in two forms:

• Capital Advances. This is funding that covers the cost of developing, acquiring, or rehabilitating the development. Repayment is not required as long as the housing remains available for occupancy by very low-income elderly persons for at least 40 years for (under Section 202) or very low-income persons with disabilities (under Section 811).
  
  
• Project Rental Assistance Contracts. This is funding that goes to each development to cover the difference between the residents' contributions toward rent and the cost of operating the project.

Residents must be "very low income" with household incomes less than 50 percent of their median for that area. However, most households that receive Section 811 or Section 202 assistance earn less than 30 percent of the median for their area. Generally, this means that a one-person household will have an annual income of about $13,500.

Illinois Section 202 and 811 Grants

Section 202 - Supportive Housing for the Elderly

Project Location: Chicago, IL
Non-Profit Sponsor: Cath Charities Hsg Devl Corp
Capital Advance: $6,977,900
Three-year rental subsidy: $517,500
Number of units: 43

Project Description: This independent living development is part of the East 99th Street Residence Senior project for the elderly. It will consist of two 43 unit one bedroom apartments connected by a one story lobby. This building will be 4 stories. Each unit will have a full kitchen, living/dining area, unit entry coat closet, bathroom with tub/shower unit and bedroom with full closet. Each unit will be designed for wheelchair adaptability. Security/reception desk, entry lounge, mail room and management offices will be provided at the entrance.

Project Location: Chicago, IL
Non-Profit Sponsor: Elderly Hsg Devl & Operations Corp
Capital Advance: $10,223,500
Three-year rental subsidy: $758,100
Number of units: 63

Project Description: The project consists of 63 one-bedroom, independent living units for the elderly in Chicago, Illinois. It will be 4 stories and will have an elevator. The building will be served by the existing bus line which connects the buildings within the development to each other as well as to the facilities that are in the area and serve the residents daily needs. 13 units will be designed for full accessibility. 10 units will be designed for the sight and hearing impaired. Social and recreational opportunities will be available to the residents.

Project Location: Chicago, IL
Non-Profit Sponsor: Englewood Cooperative Apartments
Capital Advance: $3,894,600
Three-year rental subsidy: $288,900
Number of units: 24

Project Description: This is a 24 unit independent living development for very low income elderly persons. Each unit will have a living/dining area adjacent to an open plan kitchen, a bedroom and bathroom. The building's unique triangular shape will complement the surrounding community. There will be a multipurpose room intended to provide a comfortable location for social interaction between the tenants. There will be fully accessible units for the physically disabled as well as the vision/hearing impaired.

Project Location: Chicago, IL
Non-Profit Sponsor: St Edmunds Redevelopment Corp
Capital Advance: $5,517,400
Three-year rental subsidy: $409,200
Number of units: 34

Project Description: This is a 34 one bedroom unit, independent living building for the elderly in Chicago, Illinois. It will have 5 stories with an elevator. Each unit will have a full kitchen, dining area, living room, entryway with a coat closet, bathroom with a shower or tub/shower and a bedroom with a full closet. The design will allow conversion to accessible units economically which will accommodate the changing needs of the residents as they age in place. The structure is designed to allow visitors with disabilities to visit each unit without barriers.

Project Location: Chicago, IL
Non-Profit Sponsor: Cath Charities Hsg Devl Corp
Capital Advance: $6,977,900
Three-year rental subsidy: $517,500
Number of units: 43

Project Description: This independent living development is part of the East 99th Street Residence Senior Housing project for the elderly. It will consist of 43 one bedroom apartments units in a 4 story building. Each unit will have a full kitchen, living/dining area, unit entry coat closet, a bathroom with a tub/shower unit and a bedroom with a full closet. Each unit will be designed for wheel chair adaptability. A security/reception desk, entry lounge, mail room and management office will be located near the building entrance.

Project Location: Pittsfield, IL
Non-Profit Sponsor: W Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging
Capital Advance: $1,959,600
Three-year rental subsidy: $180,600
Number of units: 15

Project Description: This is a 15 one bedroom, independent living facility for the elderly in Pittsfield, Illinois. The structure will have one story. Each unit will have a full kitchen, dining area, living room, entry with a coat closet, bathroom with a shower unit and bedroom with a full closet. All units will be designed for wheelchair accessibility. An additional unit will be set aside for the sight and hearing impaired. All units will have adjustable height shelving, lever handles and individual heating/cooling units.

Section 811 - Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities

Project Location: Alton, IL
Non-Profit Sponsor: Wellspring Resources
Capital Advance: $1,553,400
Three-year rental subsidy: $144,600
Number of units: 12

Project Description: This is a 12 unit development for the chronically mentally ill in Alton, Illinois. It will have 12 one bedroom units. It will be a single story facility with 2 wings flanking the common area. The entry will be at grade level with no barriers to access. Each wing will have 6 one bedroom apartments with a full kitchen and bath. Kitchens will be equipped with built-in electric range, refrigerator and disposal. The project design will fit well with the surrounding area's mix of multifamily buildings and single family homes.

Project Location: Crete, IL
Non-Profit Sponsor: SouthStar Services
Capital Advance: $698,200
Three-year rental subsidy: $72,300
Number of units: 6

Project Description: The Deborah Home will be a one story, 6 person group home in Crete, Illinois. It will have 6 bedrooms and shared common space. The home is designed with 3 principles in mind- to blend seamlessly into a neighborhood of single family homes; to incorporate a level of accessibility exceeding code minimums and to incorporate sustainable design principles to enhance the health and wellness of the occupants while reducing energy costs for the owners. All the interior spaces will be accessible to the occupants.

Project Location: Freeport, IL
Non-Profit Sponsor: Accessible Space, INC
Capital Advance: $3,743,400
Three-year rental subsidy: $288,900
Number of units:  25

Project Description: This development will be an independent living facility for 24 persons with physical disabilities in Freeport, Illinois. There will be 21 one bedroom units and 4 two bedroom units. One two bedroom unit is for an on-site caretaker. All of the units will be fully accessible with roll in showers and accessible kitchens. Special attention will be given to the design needs of the residents including lighting, noise control, proper flooring materials and safe transitions between each floor surface area.

Project Location: Joliet, IL
Non-Profit Sponsor: Cornerstone Services Inc
Capital Advance: $698,200
Three-year rental subsidy: $72,300
Number of units: 6

Project Description: The proposed group home is a one story building with 6 bedrooms with full closets and shared common space in Joliet, Illinois. This facility will have a full kitchen, dining room, living room, three full baths, linen closets, entry closet, office and outside deck. There will be a 2 car garage with 6 locked storage closets- one for each resident. The facility will be designed for wheelchair accessibility and will have adjustable height shelving, adjustable height wall cabinets, lever handles and a zoned heating/cooling system.

Project Location: Shorewood, IL
Non-Profit Sponsor: Cornerstone Services Inc
Capital Advance: $698,200
Three-year rental subsidy: $72,300
Number of units: 6

Project Description: The proposed group home is a one story building with 6 bedrooms containing full closets and shared common space in Shorewood, Illinois. The facility will have a full kitchen, dining room, living room, 3 full baths, linen closets, entry closet, office, laundry room and outside deck. The building is designed for wheelchair accessibility. The design will also allow visitors with disabilities to visit each room. There will be accessible routes from the bus stop to the building entrance.

Project Location: Shorewood, IL
Non-Profit Sponsor: Cornerstone Services Inc
Capital Advance: $698,200
Three-year rental subsidy: $72,300
Number of units: 6

Project Description: This group home will be one story with 6 bedrooms containing full closets and shared common space in Shorewood, Illinois. The building will have a full kitchen, dining room, living room, 3 full baths, linen closets, entry closet, office, laundry room and outside deck. It will have a 2 car garage with 6 locked storage closets- one for each resident. The building will integrate ENERGY STAR technologies and building practices. The design will allow visitors with disabilities to visit each unit, traveling throughout the building without barriers.

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