IHDA In This Issue
IHDA Loan Officer of the Month
LoanOfficer
IHDA's Homeownership Department recognizes Jean Lovergine, Senior Mortgage Banker with The Private Bank in Chicago as its "Loan Officer of the Month." Jean's extensive knowledge of IHDA's down payment assistance programs has made homeownership possible for all types of buyers throughout the Chicagoland area. And with more than 15 years of experience, her dedication to guiding her clients through the buying process ensures the experience is as smooth as possible. Thanks, Jean!
IHDA Upcoming Dates


UpcomingDates
March 27
5 p.m.

March 27
5 p.m.

March 31
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
James R. Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60601

April 1 - 2
Hyatt Regency Chicago
151 E. Upper Wacker Dr.
Chicago, IL 60601

April 14 - 17
Jesse White Community Center and Fieldhouse
410 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610

May 11 - 13
Chicago Marriot
540 North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
IHDA Unveils New Mortgage Product... @HomeIllinois
 AtHomeIllinois
IHDA Program News
Just in time for the spring home buying season, @HomeIllinois offers a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a suite of loan options, including $5,000 in down payment assistance, so first-time buyers, repeat buyers and homeowners looking to refinance can customize their loan to fit their individual financial situation. This is the first time IHDA has offered down payment assistance for repeat home buyers. 

See the press release for more details and visit AtHomeIllinois.gov for program information.
Illinois Wins Second Award Under Section 811 Project Rental Assistance Program
 HUD
IHDA Program News On March 2, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the award of more than $6.4 million in rental assistance to help extremely low-income residents with disabilities in Illinois live as independently as possible in the community of their choice.

Granted under the Section 811 Project Rental Assistance program, these funds will allow IHDA to provide rental assistance to an estimated 200 households transitioning out of institutional settings and back into the community. Rental subsidies will be awarded to owners of properties funded by tax credits, HOME funds or other sources and potential residents in need of deeply affordable supportive housing will be linked to participating owners through the State Referral Network.

In February 2013, IHDA received nearly $12 million under the Section 811 program to make over 800 apartments affordable for persons with special needs. 

See HUD's press release for more details.
Chicago's Pullman Neighborhood Designated as City's First National Monument
 Pullman
President Obama visited Chicago on February 19 to designate the historic Pullman district as the city's first national monument, the latest boost to the neighborhood after years of positive change.

The area is reviving thanks to developments like the Pullman Wheelworks, a factory-turned-apartment building and integral piece of the Pullman renewal. Built as a manufacturing facility in 1920, the building became distressed after it was converted into housing in 1980. When Mercy Housing Lakefront and the National Housing Trust/Enterprise Preservation Corporation acquired the property in 2012, it was clear the neighborhood landmark needed to be rehabbed. 

The Wheelworks received $14 million in IHDA bond financing and $2 million in FAF grants to preserve the affordability of 210 units, an effort that improved the homes of more than 450 residents and the community as a whole. Crime in the area is down nearly 50 percent since the redevelopment, a significant step forward for the stabilization and future success of Pullman.

See the Chicago Tribune for more details.
Register Today for the 2015 Illinois Governor's Conference on Affordable Housing
 Conference
Join industry insiders and key housing policy leaders to discuss the strategies and current trends that are shaping the future affordable housing. 

Joining us this year as keynote speaker on April 1 is acclaimed author and renowned policy expert Sandra Newman, Professor of Policy Studies at The Johns Hopkins University. Newman's groundbreaking research explores the effects of housing and neighborhoods on the life outcomes of children and adults, highlighting the important role of affordable rental housing in a balanced national housing policy.

Session topics are now available on the Sessions page.

Remember to book your hotel room by March 13 to receive the discounted conference rate.

Register today at ilgovernorsconference.org.
IHDA, Cook County and the City of Chicago Release Joint Compliance Forms for Property Owners and Managers
 NewForms
IHDA, Cook County and the City of Chicago have released three new joint compliance forms for owners of government assisted housing to streamline compliance for affordable rental properties with financing from multiple sources.

The updated forms include the Tenant Profile Form, Tenant Selection Plan Checklist and the Rent Schedule Form. Previously, each agency collected similar information on three separate forms, placing an unnecessary burden on property owners. As a part of an effort led by The Preservation Compact, the agencies launched the three new forms in 2015, in addition to the shared Tenant Income Certification Form which was launched previously, to simplify compliance for mixed-finance properties. For each form, a single version will now be accepted by all three agencies. 

See The Preservation Compact and IHDA's Property Manager page for more information.
Free Fair Housing Training for Landlords, Property Owners and Property Managers
 Trainings
All landlords and property managers have a right to choose a tenant that will pay rent on time and be respectful of property and others. However, they also have a responsibility to understand and comply with fair housing laws designed to protect the rights of applicants to choose where they would like to live without experiencing discrimination.

The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) will host a Fair Housing Training on March 31 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Chicago. Experts will be on hand to discuss the important components of fair housing and risk management strategies for preventing discrimination. The free training will also cover an overview of fair housing laws, costs that come from non-compliance with the Fair Housing Act, an explanation of how complaints are filed with IDHR, and best practices for property owners and managers.

More information is available on IDHR's Fair Housing Training registration page. 
Attend the Inaugural CSH Summit and Illinois Supportive Housing Academy
 CSH
CSH has announced their inaugural Summit on Supportive Housing Innovations, scheduled for May 11-13 in Chicago. The Summit will be a forum for sharing tools and solutions, featuring the most pressing topics for supportive housing today, the latest industry innovations and guidance on how participants can capitalize on them.

To get the most out of the Summit, participants should attend the 2015 Supportive Housing Academy from April 14-17 for an intensive training on creating new supportive housing and improving the quality of existing supportive housing. Open to housing providers, developers, advocates and government officials, the Academy covers key issues including financing, development partnerships, policy and service design.

Visit CSH to register for the Summit and Supportive Housing Academy.
Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago Announces 2015 Affordable Housing Programs
 FHBLC
IHDA Program News
Downpayment Plus Program
Starting March 16, FHLBC members enrolled in the Downpayment Plus program may access subsidies of $6,000 per household to help eligible customers with down payments and closing costs. This assistance can also be paired with IHDA's new @HomeIllinois program which offers an additional $5,000 in down payment assistance for first-time and repeat buyers.

Visit the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago for more information.

Affordable Housing Program
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago's (FHLBC) Affordable Housing Program will open for applications on April 27, making available per-project subsidies of up to $850,000 for rental developments serving income-eligible households.

Join FHLBC staff at any one of five complimentary half-day sessions to learn more about program eligibility, project feasibility and changes to the scoring guidelines. FHLBC member institutions, potential sponsors and project consultants are encouraged to attend.

Click here for session dates and locations.
Developers, Remember to Include IHDA When Planning Your Groundbreakings and Grand Openings
 Events
Every new development provides a valuable platform to reach out to the communities we serve and showcase the work we do. Not only are these events important milestones, but they help to establish new partnerships that lead to more support for new developments in the future.

Please contact Max Mueller in IHDA's Marketing & Communications Department when you start planning for your next event. He will help identify the best dates, times, speakers and media opportunities that make these events a success. 
 
We look forward to hearing from you!

IHDA New Developments
 
NewDevelopments
Congratulations to our public-private partners on the following groundbreakings and grand openings:

Veterans new Beginnings Grand Opening (New Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church)
(February 20, 2015)

65th Infantry "Borinqueneers" Veterans Housing Groundbreaking (Hispanic Housing Development Corporation)
(February 12, 2015)


IHDA In The News
InTheNews 
(March 7, 2015) Paris Beacon-News

(March 4, 2015) Chicago Tribune

(March 3, 2015) Chicago Sun Times

(February 7, 2015) Belleville News-Democrat

(February 6, 2015) Daily Southtown

(February 6, 2015) Suburban Life Publications