Message from the CEO:

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1 A newsletter for participants in the Chicago Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher Program Message from the CEO: Greetings! 2018 is already turning out to be another year of growth for CHA and I am pleased to share with you news and information about the many programs and opportunities designed with you in mind. We are building a foundation for the future at CHA, and education is a key focus of our work. We want to be sure that you are aware of all of the programs that can benefit you and your family. The CHA Scholarship Program is open for applications through May 16 and I encourage everyone who is eligible to apply. This year, CHA plans to award over 200 scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 based on each applicant s academic merit, community involvement and essay content. In 2017, we reached a significant milestone with 235 scholarships awarded to CHA residents the largest number to date, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 for the school year. Just as impressive, today, there are more than 7,500 CHA residents enrolled in colleges across the country. In addition to scholarships, the CHA/City Colleges Partners in Education Program is another opportunity that enables CHA residents and HCV participants to obtain a degree or certificate from City Colleges of Chicago for little to no cost. Partners in Education Program managers are available to help with the enrollment process, academic advisement and referrals for career coaching when appropriate. Eligible expenses include tuition, uniforms, books and exam fees. Finally, I am very proud to introduce you to the new HCV Participant Advisory Council. My vision for the Council has always been for CHA to obtain meaningful feedback from our participants. We want your ideas and suggestions on how we can make the Program better for you. I want to thank the Council for their service and commitment on behalf of all participants. I hope you take the time to read the rest of this newsletter so you can be up to date on all that is happening at CHA and with the HCV Program. As we take the leap into Spring, my hope is that you are able to take advantage of the many opportunities we make available to you and continue to pursue your own goals as you build your own foundation for the future. Regards, In This Issue: Message from the CEO Choose to Own Program Orientation Schedule Introducing the HCV Participant Advisory Council CHA College Scholarship Program South Technical Center Automotive Training Requesting Reasonable Accommodations Chicago City Colleges Partners in Education Program Comcast Internet Essentials Program Building Self- Determination Robotics Training Program HCV Program Terms You Want to Know Neighborhood Spotlight: Austin Upcoming Participant Workshops Eugene Jones, Jr. CEO

2 Are you a CHA resident or voucher holder? Homeownership can become a reality through CHA s CHOOSE TO OWN HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM OWNING VS. RENTING FAMILY & COMMUNITY STABILIZATION INDEPENDENCE & SELF SUFFICIENCY JOIN US FOR AN INFORMATIONAL ORIENTATION ON ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DATES NO RSVP REQUIRED South Regional Office, 10 W. 35 th St. Chicago IL Thursday, 1/18/18 4:00PM to 5:00PM Thursday, 3/1/18 9:00AM to 10:00AM West Regional Office, 2750 W. Roosevelt Rd. Chicago IL Wednesday, 1/31/18 4:00PM to 5:00PM Wednesday, 3/21/18 4:00PM to 5:00PM CHA Central, 60 E. Van Buren St., Chicago IL (Enter through client services side of building) Thursday, 2/8/18 9:00AM to 10:00AM Thursday, 3/29/18 9:00AM to 10:00AM Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP), 2558 W. 63rd St, Chicago IL Wednesday, 2/14/18 4:00PM to 5:00PM Wednesday, 3/14/18 4:00PM to 5:00PM Spanish Coalition for Housing, 1922 N. Pulaski, Chicago IL Tuesday, 1/23/18 4:00PM to 5:00PM Wednesday, 2/21/18 4:00PM to 5:00PM LUCHA, 1152 N. Christiana, Chicago IL Wednesday, 1/10/18 4:00PM to 5:00PM Wednesday, 3/7/18 4:00PM to 5:00PM PLEASE BE ON TIME. DOORS WILL CLOSE AT ORIENTATION START TIME. ALL ORIENTATIONS ABOVE ARE IN ENGLISH. Questions? CTOprogram@thecha.org 2

3 Introducing the HCV Participant Advisory Council Almost a decade ago, CHA began the Housing Choice Voucher Participant Advisory Council to give a representative voice to the roughly 47,000 families that participate in the HCV Program. The mission: to offer effective feedback to the agency and assist in the development of strategies. After a brief hiatus, a new Council is back on the job, advising the HCV executive team on how to improve processes. They are in an advisory capacity, to advise us on Program guidelines and help to improve those things about the Program in terms of process and the information that is being disseminated, said HCV Director Karen Humphrey. We have our HUD requirements that cannot be changed. But being a Moving to Work agency gives us a lot of latitude in programs and how we do things. Whether it be about moving papers or the inspection process. The participants have opinions on how we can improve things. And this Council is about hearing those opinions. The Council was established in 2010, under then HCV Director Steven Rosario. The current iteration began taking shape last year, and a new group of 13 all active in the HCV Program was selected in Since June, the new Council has been meeting twice a month, on Thursdays and Saturdays. Meantime, they have been receiving training from the HCV team on procedure and policy. When you bring together large groups from all over the city that are unfamiliar with each other, it takes a few months to get to know each other, said Debra Parker, the former LAC vice president at Altgeld Gardens who is now a member of the Council. We had to figure out what everybody is there for, and to make certain that it wasn t about your individual self. We cleared that up in a couple of months. Then everybody had to learn about the programs, and then we went directly into training. Now the group is finally up and running. Outreach coordinator Shareef Taylor has been attending the meetings, along with Humphrey and HCV Chief Katie Ludwig. Their jobs are to keep the Council members abreast of items that can help them be more effective. We are advisors to the Council, basically keeping them on track with various topics to ensure they are focused on the matters at hand and to provide the resources they need to be successful, Taylor said. Humphrey said, so far, CHA is happy with what it has seen. The focus now is on education and then talking about the Program and what we re looking for in terms of what their mission is and what their goals are." January 25, 2018 Members attend a regular meeting of the HCV Participant Advisory Council. From left: Catherine Scott, Kathy Dunbar, Charlotte Starks, Brenda Crawford, Debra Parker, Denice Williams, Ceola Coleman, Jerry Johnson, Anika Hudson. Not pictured: Alicia Allen, Jim Ramsey, Lorenzo Slater. 3

4 South Technical Center 3-month program classes: Intro to Automotive Technology Electrical Systems and Power Accessories Automotive Brakes Steering and Suspension Climate Control Systems 5 courses to prepare you for a job in the automotive field * Experienced and Enthusiastic Instructors Professional Development to prepare you for the workplace * Well equipped labs * Latest training technology * Post-program support * Funding available Call to get enrolled NOW! 3-MONTH JOB PROGRAM Advanced classes: Electrical Systems 2 Fuel Management Fuel Management 2 Performance and Drivability Shop Service Management 6 month program includes all 3-month classes plus advanced courses Day and Evening courses available * Job Placement ASE certification tests after completion STC is an Illinois Board of Higher Education Certified institution 9946 S. Halsted Street Chicago, IL info@southtechnicalcenter.org Contact : Jeffery A. Kidd 4

5 Reasonable Accommodations Did you know? Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states that the CHA and its designees have a legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodation to Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) applicants and participants (or any member of the applicant or participant family) with a disability, as defined below. Section 504 defines disability as: Having a physical, mental or emotional impairment that substantially limits one or more of a person s major life activities; Ex: Walking, Grasping Objects, Verbalizing Thoughts, Breathing, etc. Having a record of such an impairment; Ex: Someone who has a history of a mental or physical impairment that may have affected them in the past; Are regarded as having such an impairment. Ex: A person who is treated as having a disability even though they do not have a disability. A reasonable accommodation is a change in rules, policies, practices, or services so that a person with a disability will have an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling unit or common space. Examples of a reasonable accommodation for HCV Program applicants and participants with a disability include, but are not limited to: Voucher Extension Live-in Aide Extra Bedroom Change to the payment standard To request a reasonable accommodation, please visit your local CHA servicing office to complete a Reasonable Accommodation Request form. The form is also available for download on the CHA website, When you submit a request, CHA will ask you to provide contact information for a knowledgable professional (physician, nurse, psychiatrist, etc.) who can verify that you have a disability that qualifies you for special accommodations. Note: CHA cannot offer an accommodation to a person who does not disclose his/her disability status. Questions about reasonable accommodations? Please contact the CHA Fair Housing Support Line at or fairhousing@thecha.org. Are you looking for internet you can actually afford? Comcast offers Affordable Internet at Home for eligible households. To learn more about the Internet Essentials Program or apply for services visit the website at 5

6 Information Session Dates LOCATION:4859 South Wabash Feb 13th 2:00 PM March 13th 2:00 PM April 17th 2:00 PM May 8th 2:00 PM Send RSVP to (872)

7 HCV Program Terms to Know When navigating the HCV Program, participants often come across confusing Program terms or acronyms. The following terms are often used when referring to how CHA determines rent for a unit, as well as the portions paid by CHA and the participant. Total Tenant Payment (TTP): The total amount the participant is required to pay toward rent and utilities, which is the greatest of the following amounts 10% of the participant family's gross monthly income, 30% of the participant family's adjusted monthly income, or CHA's $75 minimum rent. Minimum Rent: The minimum amount that CHA asks participants to pay towards rent and utilities. Currently, CHA's minimum rent is $75. Participants can request an exemption in situations of extreme financial hardship. Payment Standard: An amount established by CHA that represents the maximum monthly assistance payment for a family assisted in the voucher program (before deducting the total tenant payment by the family). Payment standards are based on the HUD published Fair Market Rent for the given year, and vary based on the voucher size. Utility Allowance: The estimated cost that a participant will pay in utilities (broken out by utility type) which is included in their total tenant payment. Gross Rent: Represents the entire housing cost the rent for the unit plus the utility allowance amount for any tenant-paid utilities. If the gross rent is higher than the payment standard for the participant's voucher, the participant may be asked to pay more than the total tenant payment toward rent/utilities. Contract Rent: The rent amount that CHA and the property owner agree to during the rent determination process. Represents participant rent plus the Housing Assitance Payment. Participant Rent: The amount that the HCV participant pays to the property owner. For the initial lease term, this amount can be no more than 40% of the participant family's adjusted monthly income. Housing Assistance Payment (HAP): The monthly assistance payment by CHA, which is the payment to the property owner for rent under the family's lease. If the total assistance exceeds the contract rent to the property owner, CHA will also make payment to the participant in the form of a utility reimbursement. Utility Reimbursement: The portion of the Housing Assistance Payment which exceeds the amount of rent to the property owner due to the utility allowance being greater than the total tenant payment. This amount is paid directly to the participant through a debit card. Neighborhood Spotlight Austin, which is comprised of the Galewood, North Austin, South Austin and The Island neighborhoods, is the largest of Chicago's 77 community areas geographically (7.16 square miles), and second largest by population (97,600 as of 2015). Austin is home to eight Chicago landmark buildings as well as many architecturally distinct homes and public buildings. Neighborhood Resources & Community Organizations 28th Ward, Alderman Jason Ervin 2602 W. 16th Street, Chicago, IL , 29th Ward, Alderman Chris Taliaferro 6272 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL , 37th Ward, Alderman Emma Mitts 4924 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL , 15th District Chicago Police Department Commander Ernest Cato III 5701 W. Madison Avenue, Chicago, IL , CAPS015District@chicagopolice.org Austin Town Hall Park and Cultural Center 5610 W. Lake Street, Chicago, IL Friday, April 7:00 p.m. Jazz City Concert Columbus Park 500 S. Central Avenue, Chicago, IL Thursday, March 6:30 p.m. Family Night Out Rutherford Sayre Park 6871 W. Belden Avenue, Chicago, IL Saturday, April 10:00 a.m. Open House Austin Coming Together (ACT) 5049 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL , 7

8 Housing Choice Voucher Program 60 E. Van Buren Chicago, IL GOING PLACES Upcoming Participant Workshops Fair Housing and Tenants Rights in Chicago Are you familiar with the many laws that govern renters and property owners in the city of Chicago? Learn from housing law experts about the regulations that are in place to protect renters and to promote equal access rental housing during each phase of the process from application to leasing, and even eviction. Tuesday, March 20 CHA Central Office 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 60 E. Van Buren Street, Chicago, IL Interims: Reporting Income and Family Changes to CHA Has your income changed? Do you need to add or remove a household member? Then it s probably time to submit an interim request! Learn from CHA staff about how reporting changes in your income and/or family can increase (or decrease) the amount of subsidy you receive as a participant on the HCV Program. Thursday, March 29 CHA South Office 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. 10 W. 35th Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL Learn more and register to attend these events at CHA-HCVevents.eventbrite.com or RSVP by phone