Community Organizing

Winter of 2008/2009

Leaders will be coming together with LBBA to decide on Green and Energy Efficient options they want to see incorporated into our buildings in January. To get involved and attend a meeting, contact the organizing team at (773)276-5338 ext. 228 or 242.

Fall of 2008

September, 2008 Leaders of Communities United for Affordable Housing (CUFAH) visited Alderman Burnett’s ward night to ask for his support for our Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Application and the zoning change needed for the 30 units of new development for Communities United. He wrote letters of support for both requests.

October, 2008 A community meeting was organized to talk to Humboldt Park residents about foreclosure. In addition to discussing counseling options available through LUCHA, residents learned about the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) which provides $55 million from the federal government to buy and rehab vacant, foreclosed homes in areas of the greatest need. Leaders identified over 30 boarded-up homes in the blocks surround the Communities United development, and will be presenting the list to the city in order to secure money to develop more affordable housing, both for sale and for rent, in their neighborhood.

Summer of 2008

June, 2008 The leaders of CUFAH, in partnership with Landon Bone Baker Architects (LBBA) and LUCHA, toured the Westhaven Development site, so that they could get ideas and give feedback for the layout and design of the Communities United development.

June, 2008 Leaders also met with Senator Rickey Hendon to advocate for the passage of a Capital Bill in the Illinois General Assembly, which included more funding for affordable housing.

August, 2008 A commitment was received from Deputy Commissioner Bill Eager at the Chicago Department of Housing that the Communities United development was on the list to close in 2009.

Spring of 2008

Leaders of CUFAH decided on designs which placed 30 units of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom units on the equivalent size of 10 standard city-lots. However, due to the smaller size of the lots on W. Ohio and N. Springfield, leaders advocated for an additional two lots on N. Avers so they could provide the committed amount of units of affordable housing to the neighborhood. After presenting to both Alderman Burnett and the community Task Force, the two additional lots were approved in April for the Communities United Development. The necessary zoning changes for the construction of 3 story buildings were also approved at these community meetings.

 May, 2008 Leaders of CUFAH attended a training hosted by LUCHA Development staff to discuss the contractor selection process for the Communities United development.

Winter of 2007/2008

As we seek other sources of funding, community leaders of CUFAH have several planning meetings with award winning architects Landon Bone Baker to draw up site plans and designs for the LUCHA communites United affordable housing development on W. Ohio and N. Springfield.  Planning meetings are organized by LUCHA.

February 2008 – Community leaders of CUFAH present LUCHA Communities United site plans and building designs to Alderman Burnett on Ward Night

Spring of 2007

Communities United for Affordable Housing and LUCHA Win Support from State Officials and Send Over 350 letters to DOH

March 2007 - Leaders of CUFAH and LUCHA go to State Senator Rickey Hendons community night and after presenting their proposal he drafts a letter of support to Housing Commissioner Markowski

March 2007 - State Representative Collins sends a letter of support to Housing Commissioner Markowski after her office is contacted to support the proposal

March 2007 - CUFAH and LUCHA announce a community letter writing campaign to Commissioner Markowski so that DOH funds the proposal. A goal of 200 letters mailed is set by the leaders.  By mid April over 350 letters of support and 700 names on petitions were mailed!!

Winter of 2007

Communities United for Affordable Housing Successfully Pressures Alderman to Support Their Housing Proposal

January 2007 - Several CUFAH community leaders present their proposal to the Alderman's Chicago Avenue Task Force to receive support. Alderman Burnett publicly states his support for issuing 10 city owned vacant lots to CUFAH and LUCHA. He falls short of expressing support for the city tax credit allocation.

February 2007 - CUFAH mobilizes 60 community members to their 07 housing kick off action. Alderman Burnett is invited and attends. Show of community support results in Alderman announcing support for tax credits and additional lots in the future.

Communities United for Affordable Housing is Born

Leaders Present Their Community Proposal for Affordable Housing to Local Alderman

January 2007 - Community Leaders decide in a community meeting with LUCHA that they will go under the name Communities United for Affordable Housing (CUFAH) in their campaign for affordable housing.

December 2007 – Leaders of CUFAH and LUCHA attend TIF trainings by University of Illinois Professor Rachel Webb and the Chicago Rehab Network.

January 2007 - CUFAH leaders decide to organize a community rally for Feb. 6 to present their proposal to the community and to show Alderman that they have community strength behind them.

January 2007 - 11 CUFAH leaders and a LUCHA organizer present to Alderman the affordable housing proposal at Ward Night and ask for his support to commit city vacant lots and city tax credits for the proposal. CUFAH presents to Alderman Burnett petitions showing support for affordable housing with over 700 signatures from the community

Fall of 2007

September 2007 – Chicago Department of Housing and Mayor Richard Daley announce the city tax credit awards for affordable housing. LUCHA Communities United development is on the list!

November 2007 – Leaders from CUFAH meet with Senator Rickey Hendon to receive letter of support for state funding. State Representative Annazzette Collins also submitted a letter of support to the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

November 2007 – Leaders of CUFAH meet with Alderman buernett to talk about accessing TIF funding for affordable housing. Alderman requests site plans and designs.

Winter of 2006

Humboldt Park Area Affordable Housing Proposal is Finalized and Presented to Community Leaders Who Shaped the Proposal

Community leaders meet in groups at LUCHA Humboldt Park Residence (SRO) to discuss strategies on winning aldermanic support for their affordable housing community development proposal

Community leaders pledge to support each others neighborhoods and to stand together as a rainbow community

LUCHA reaffirms its commitment to supporting community leaders every step of the way.

Fall of 2006

Community Residents and Leaders Join LUCHA to Inaugurate New Mothers United Housing on Oct. 5

Inauguration ceremony for new affordable housing developments championed by Single Mothers working with LUCHA is held in Humboldt Park neighborhood

Over 150 community supporters and leaders attend ceremony to rally for affordable housing

Local elected officials and city housing commissioners attend and show their support

Leaders become more inspired to bring new affordable housing developments to their own neighborhood areas

Summer of 2006

Community Planning Meetings with LUCHA Leads to Leaders Identifying the Types of Affordable Housing They Will Advocate For

Community leaders stated preferences for 2 and 3 story homes that fit with character of neighborhood homes (2 to 3 bedrooms)

Community leaders want to advocate for more affordable rental housing for low income residents

Community leaders want to advocate for two to three story two family homes for purchase and affordable to low income working families

Community leaders want to see boarded up buildings rehabilitated for affordable housing

Over 150 community supporters and leaders attend ceremony to rally for affordable housing

Local elected officials and city housing commissioners attend and show their support

Leaders become more inspired to bring new affordable housing developments to their own neighborhood areas

Community Residents Develop Into Stronger Community Leaders By Building Community Support for Affordable Housing

Leaders petition their area blocks to collect signatures for affordable housing

Hundreds of humboldt park residents sign petitions

Leaders distribute flyers to their neighbors to spread word about LUCHA community meetings

Due to resident concerns, Leader ideas inspires LUCHA to organize a Property Tax Freeze Workshop and Utility Rights Workshop for Residents

Spring of 2006

Community Residents Begin Identifying Lots and Boarded Up Homes in their Areas for Affordable Housing Development

Residents bring pictures of vacant lots and boarded homes in their neighborhoods to LUCHA community meetings to discuss affordable housing ideas

Residents suggest that ownership information should be gathered about the vacant lots to see which are city owned properties. Spring of 2006

LUCHA Calls Community Meetings to Bring Attention to Humboldt Park Housing Situation

LUCHA organizing team presents its Nathalie P. Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement Humboldt Park Demographic and Housing Survey to community leaders and residents in attendance—the study shows alarming trends in the following areas:

Rent increases are displacing low income households, and as a result families are doubling up in apartments to afford rent.

Long time residents in the community are facing the highest housing and utility costs ever.

Vacant land buyers are holding on to vacant lots because they are seeing that gentrification is coming to the Humboldt Park area.