Service Above All Else - Lake County Housing Authority

Service Above All Else
Lake County Housing Authority
33928 North US Highway 45 - Grayslake, IL 60030
Fourth Quarter, 2015
In This Issue
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Save The Date for LCHA’s 2016
Annual Gala!
HUD’s Region 5 Administrator Visit
LCHA Receives Grants
Family Self-Sufficiency Graduation
Giving Thanks With Our Seniors
Spotlight: LCHA Board of Commissioners
Upcoming Events
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First Time Homebuyer Education
Class - January 30
Landlord Briefing - February 17
Board of Commissioners Meeting - February 18
3rd Annual Black Tie Gala - June 17, 2016
Visit us Online!
Visit us on the web!
www.lakecountyha.org
Thanks For A Great 2015!
On behalf of the Board of Commissioners
and staff, I am pleased to provide you with
our 2015 Newsletter, Volume 2, highlighting
our activities in the second half of 2015. It’s
been quite a busy year for us, and I’m so
proud of our exciting programs and
accomplishments. We’ve continued to work
hard to go above and beyond providing
affordable housing to those in our
community. We’ve provided excellent
resources to our clients at impressive levels
of performance.
Our website is updated regularly with information on LCHA
events and activities and also contains information for the
community, residents, landlords and current/potential vendors. Our commitment is to provide the citizens of
Lake County, Illinois with housing options,
services, educational opportunities and
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the
programs that strengthen the community
and provide opportunities to enhance lives.
Latest News!
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/lakecountyha
Twitter:
@lakecountyha
At LCHA, we believe in “Service Above All
Else.” We are proud to serve the citizens of
Lake County, Illinois.
David A. Northern, Sr.
David A. Northern, Sr.
Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer
Save The Date!
2016 Annual Gala, “Empowering the Present, Impacting the Future”
June 17, 2016
On Friday, June 17, 2016 LCHA and AIM North Development
Corporation will hold their 3rd Annual Black Tie Gala, “Empowering
the Present, Impacting the Future.” We are very excited to welcome
actor, writer, producer and educator James T. Alfred as our Keynote
Speaker. We hope you’ll join us for what’s sure to be a memorable
evening of dinner and dancing. A raffle and silent auction will also be
held.
Funds raised by the event will provide scholarships for residents
participating in our Family Self Sufficiency Program. This program
helps participants set short and long term goals that will help them to
become self-sufficient in the future, transforming their lives and those
of their families.
The event will be held at the Doubletree by Hilton in Mundelein, who
has partnered with LCHA for this event. Please watch our website or
follow us on Facebook or Twitter for more information and updates,
or contact us anytime at Gala@lakecountyha.org.
Excellent sponsorship opportunities are available.
HUD’s Region 5 Administrator Visits LCHA
Antonio Riley, HUD’s Region 5 Administrator, visited
LCHA’s Grayslake office in November and met with
members of the Leadership Team. As Regional
Administrator Mr. Riley oversees HUD operations in
the states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan,
Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The meeting provided an opportunity for Mr. Riley to
learn more about LCHA's successful programs and
accomplishments within Lake county. The Marion
Jones Redevelopment project in North Chicago was
the focal-point of the meeting. Once completed
LCHA will have a net increase of 210 units of
affordable housing above its current inventory of
3,441 units/vouchers.
LCHA Receives Over $230,000 in Grant Funding in December
In December, LCHA was awarded a $222,561 grant from the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS)
Program.
The funding will help Lake County, Illinois families who receive federal housing
vouchers and public housing assistance reduce their dependency on welfare
assistance and rental subsidies by providing tools and resources that will assist
them in gaining job skills and increasing their earned income.
HUD Family
Self
Sufficiency
Grant
LCHA’s FSS Program was first enacted in 1992, focusing on an employment
and savings incentive program for low-income families. Currently, LCHA
provides case management services to help approximately 450 participants
pursue and maintain employment and financial independence. An incentive
component of the program includes an escrow savings account into which LCHA
deposits a portion of the increased rental charges that a family pays as its
income from earnings rise. Families that successfully complete the FSS program
by reaching their goals, may graduate from the program and withdraw the funds
from the FSS escrow account after the successful completion of their five-year
contract. Most clients relinquish their housing voucher at that time and become
self-sufficient.
“These funds will empower families in Lake County by providing educational
opportunities, job training, and counseling to help them become financially self
-sufficient,” said David A. Northern, Sr., LCHA’s Executive Director/CEO.
“Helping people gain the necessary skills to become self-sufficient strengthens
our communities in the long term.”
In the past five years, LCHA’s FSS Program has received over $1.3 million in
grants. Sherwina, a recent FSS Graduate commented on the program, “FSS has
blessed me tremendously! Not only did their amazing staff help me stay on track
of achieving my personal goals, they awarded me with a very generous check. I
was pre-approved to purchase my first home and I’m now on my way to
becoming a first time homeowner. Thank you FSS for all your help!”
Also in December, LCHA received a $12,000
grant from Associated Bank. This grant was
awarded in support of LCHA’s Affordable
Home
Repair
efforts,
Community
Reinvestment and Fair Lending Training.
Vicente M. Ortiz, Associated Bank’s
Community Lending Officer,
with David A. Northern, Sr.,
LCHA’s Executive Director/CEO
“These funds will allow us to provide the
community with reinvestment opportunities and
additional training that will benefit everyone in
Lake County. We are grateful for Associated
Bank’s generosity and support,” said
David A. Northern, Sr., LCHA’s Executive
Director/CEO.
Associated
Bank Grant
Family Self Sufficiency Graduation
Lake County Housing Authority held a graduation ceremony
in October to celebrate and acknowledge the
accomplishments of their most recent graduates of the
Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program. Within the last 5
years, Lake County Housing Authority had has over 50
individuals successfully complete the program. The Family
Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program is a voluntary HUD program
that enables families assisted through the Housing Choice
Voucher (HCV) program and Public Housing (PH)
residents, to increase their earned income and reduce their dependency on welfare assistance
and rental subsidies through case management and referral services.
There are currently over 200 participants enrolled in this program at LCHA. Over sixty individuals
attended the event, held at State Bank of the Lakes, including the 15 graduates being honored as
well as friends and family members.
Guest speakers at the ceremony included David A. Northern Sr, LCHA’s Executive Director/CEO,
Chief Jennifer Witherspoon of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Jontelle Flowers, Director of
FIT Moms.
“We are so honored to work with these fine individuals and give them the opportunity to grow and
live self-sufficiently - improving their lives, and the lives of their families,” said David A. Northern,
Sr. “We look forward to helping many more of our participants be successful in this program on an
ongoing basis in the future.” He added that “Lake County Housing Authority is grateful to State
Bank of the Lakes for their partnership in hosting this graduation.”
Giving Thanks With Our Seniors
LCHA provides a variety of services and events for our residents. We are grateful for the many
individuals and organizations in the community who sponsor our events and activities for residents,
and help make the holidays memorable.
Above: Our senior residents give thanks at our annual Thanksgiving Senior
Feast.
Right: LCHA Leadership delivers Thanksgiving meals provided by Greater
Faith Church and Enlightened Rydaz, MC.
Holiday baskets were also provided by Lindenhurst Early Childhood Center.
Spotlight: LCHA Board of Commissioners
The Lake County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners (Board) is the governing body that
determines the policies and resolutions of LCHA. The Board meets on a monthly basis and
approves decisions that chart the direction of current and future programs.
The Board is also greatly concerned about the well-being of its residents.
Understanding the level of commitment required to effectively perform their responsibilities, the
Board implemented quarterly ‘visits’ to different LCHA properties to get a first-hand feel for the work
that the Authority does and the people it supports.
The Board believes this type of networking offers an opportunity not only to get excited about the
work LCHA does but to offer residents the opportunity to speak with the Board ‘in their own living
rooms’. Fliers are distributed to all residents in advance of the visit to encourage participation.
The Board tours the facilities, meets with staff and offers an open forum for residents. The Board
then conducts its monthly meeting at the facility, open to the public, welcoming all interested parties
to observe LCHA’s business proceedings. Both the Board and residents have expressed
appreciation and found this encounter to be mutually beneficial.
The Board plans to continue their on-site visits in 2016. Following is a list of all monthly Board
meetings, including the on-site meetings. They can also be found on LCHA’s website.
2016 Board of Commissioner Meetings
January 28, 2016 - Central Office, 33928 N. US Highway 45, Grayslake
February 18, 2016 - Kuester Manor, 310 Osage, Wauconda
March 17, 2016 - Central Office, 33928 N. US Highway 45, Grayslake
April 21, 2016 - Central Office, 33928 N. US Highway 45, Grayslake
May 19, 2016- Millview Manor, 801 Cunningham, Antioch
June 16, 2016- Central Office, 33928 N. US Highway 45, Grayslake
July 7, 2016/Annual Mtg - Central Office, 33928 N. US Highway 45, Grayslake
August 18, 2016 - Hawley Manor, 22 Hawley, Grayslake
September 15, 2016 - Central Office, 33928 N. US Highway 45, Grayslake
October 20, 2016 - Central Office, 33928 N. US Highway 45, Grayslake
November 17, 2016 - Warren Manor, 34425 N. Almond Rd., Gurnee
December 15, 2016 - Central Office, 33928 N. US Highway 45, Grayslake
Commissioners and members of LCHA’s Leadership
Team visit with a resident in one of LCHA’s senior
buildings during an on-site visit.