| HOUSING/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT
The City of Chicago Heights is a member of the Urban County Group
through the Joint Cooperation Agreement with Cook County. Cook County
is a Grantee of Community Development Block Grant funds through
HUD under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Title
I. In 1975, communities under 50,000 joined together to form the
Urban County Group and became subgrantees of the Cook County CDBG
Program.
Because of the City of Chicago Heights’ standing as a Subgrantee
of Cook County, we are able to make application to Cook County for
possible funding for eligible projects under the CDBG Grant. From
1976 through 2001, the City has been awarded over $20 million through
this grant.
The application process begins in October and is announced to our
residents by Public Notice in the Star Newspapers as well as on
the local cable networks. The first Public Hearing held in November
is a performance report on past awards and a needs assessment for
the next award application. In February, at the second Public Hearing,
the next year’s anticipated application is presented. After
approval by the City Council, the application is sent to Cook County
for consideration. In June, the City is advised of the prospected
award. However, final approval from the County does not occur until
August or September.
The awards in the past have covered many projects including reconstruction
of streets, curbs, gutters, alleys, as well as street lighting,
water valves, and millions of dollars used for single family residential
rehabilitation.
The Housing Department provides educational seminars for residents
throughout year covering information on Fair Housing, First-Time
Homebuyers, Predatory Lenders, Landlords and Rental Agents and information
about Chicago Heights for Realtors and Bankers.
In addition to the above, the City of Chicago Heights belongs to
Diversity Inc., previously known as the South Suburban Housing Coalition.
The department presents up-to-date Fair Housing information from
these meetings to the City Staff as well as to the Community Relations
Board.
Along with the Mayor’s Office, the Department works on projects
such as the East Side/Hill tax reactivation and development and
also on special events held at City Hall.
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