Cook County Board Approves $2.6 million in Loans for Affordable and Permanent Supportive Housing Projects

COOK COUNTY, IL – Cook County Board of Commissioners today approved $2.6 million in HOME Investment Partnership Program Loan funding for three new affordable and permanent supportive housing projects located in Arlington Heights and Skokie. These HOME Investment Partnership Program Loans are an investment made by Cook County to grow affordable and permanent supportive housing development projects for families and individuals in asset rich communities in suburban Cook County.

“Cook County is proud to provide HOME Investment Loan funding to the development of these important and essential affordable housing projects,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “The demand for this type of housing represents a need that we must continue to address until everyone has a safe and affordable place to live.” 

Today’s announcement furthers Cook County’s commitment to House America: An All-Hands-on-Deck Effort to Address the Nation’s Homelessness Crisis, a federal initiative launched in October 2021 in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). By participating, the County has joined a national partnership of mayors, city and county leaders, tribal nation leaders, and governors in a pledge to respond with urgency to homelessness by re-housing 1,000 households and developing at least 800 units of new supportive and affordable housing by December 31, 2022. These three newly funded development projects will add a total of 81 affordable and permanent supportive housing units towards that goal.

“The pandemic has exacerbated the affordable housing and homelessness crisis in Cook County,” stated Xochitl Flores, Cook County Bureau of Economic Development Bureau Chief. “And a lack of affordable housing remains a barrier to the health, safety, well-being, employment and education of residents and families. Projects like these, address key needs and leverage an additional $35.5 million in public and private investment.”  

Projects include:

Arlington Heights PSH consists of new construction of a 25-unit, affordable, permanent supportive housing development for families and individuals, located at 1519-1625 Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL. Additional funding sources include Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), IHDA HOME or Trust Funds, Illinois Facility Fund (IFF), ComEd Grant, and Illinois Capital Bill. The property will be wholly owned by Full Circle Communities, Inc, which specializes in the expansion of quality affordable housing through preservation and development and provides targeted supportive services to their residents and surrounding communities.

310 Arlington Heights LLC, Arlington Heights, Illinois features new construction located at 310 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights, will be a family housing community for low- and moderate-income families will consist of 40 residential units including 20 one-bedroom units and 20 two-bedroom units. The building will be built to National Green Buildings Standards (NGBS). The development will offer multiple resident programs concentrating on adult literacy, financial management, and employment assistance. All programs will be at no cost to the residents. The development will offer on-site amenities to facilitate social spaces and convenient access to services including an on-site property manager, community/media, fitness, and laundry rooms.

“We are thrilled to be working toward closing and getting underway with construction in Arlington Heights,” said Turnstone Development Executive Director Bill Schneider. “We heard the need for additional affordable multi-family housing in this area and are so grateful for the partnership and support from the Village, from Cook County’s Department of Economic Development and the Illinois Housing Development Authority who are all essential in making this happen.”

Impact Behavioral Health Partners, 8047 Floral Avenue, Skokie, Illinois will consist of 16 permanent supportive housing units as well as offices for supportive services, a library, and a community room for the residents. Priority will be given to persons with developmental and mental health disabilities. Supportive services will be provided on-site by Impact Behavioral Health Partners.

###

Cook County is the second largest county in the United States, representing 5.2 million residents in Illinois. The President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Cook County and oversees the Office of the President  and acts as President of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.

House America provides communities with the focus, resolve, and technical know-how needed to deploy these resources to maximize impact. To find out more about House America, go to www.hud.gov/house_america.

The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides formula grants to states and localities that communities use - often in partnership with local nonprofit groups - to fund a wide range of activities including building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership or providing direct rental assistance to low-income people. Learn more about HOME at www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning/home.