Dear Friends,
Despite the festivities and warmth that make this time of the year special for everyone, there’s a cloud hanging over the state brought on by the failure of government officials to pass an operating budget at the end of the state legislature’s spring session for the second straight year.
While much of state government continues to function through court orders and consent decrees, children and families are unnecessarily suffering due to the lack of state funding for human services and higher education. According to a recent survey conducted by the United Way of Illinois, nearly 1 million people are without services because... Continue Reading
Here are the latest housing updates from the Forum.
Operation H.E.L.P.
The Forum and Operation H.E.L.P. participated in a Feria de Vivienda, or housing fair, on April 30 hosted by Proyecto de Acción de los Suburbios del Oeste (P.A.S.O.) and Interfaith Leadership Project.
Thirty Melrose Park families received information regarding loan modification scams, foreclosure prevention services, Fair Housing and Home Purchasing with DACA or an ITIN number.
Main supporters included Boston Community Capital, The Private Bank and RE/MAX. Other participating agencies included Patricia Gutierrez Pascual’s Law PC, First Midwest Bank, Second Federal, Northwest Side Housing Center and Pinpoint Mortgage.
Operation H.E.L.P. also participated at the “My Wellness, My... Continue Reading
Here are the latest housing updates from the Forum.
City Council Testimony: The Forum provided testimony to the Chicago City Council’s Housing Committee in support of the Keeping the Promise Ordinance earlier this quarter.
As supporters of the proposed ordinance, the Forum believes it would increase access for Latinos to CHA programs and resources, and would make CHA more transparent and accountable. On February 17, Housing Manager Savannah Clement provided testimony publicly endorsing the passing of ordinance. Read the testimony here.
Promotores de Vivienda Justa: The Forum extends a heartfelt thank you to this winter quarter’s students from DePaul University who participated in... Continue Reading
Homeownership has long been synonymous with the “American Dream:” a means of building wealth and a tangible symbol of upward mobility, a sign that the best is yet to come. For many immigrants, Latino and otherwise, el sueño de la casa propia is also a symbol of full integration into life in the United States. As National Homeownership Month, June provides an opportunity to pause and reflect on how to support strong aspirations of homeownership in immigrant and Latino communities.
Still, Latinos and immigrants must overcome a unique set of hurdles to make their dreams of owning homes an attainable goal. The economic woes of the Great Recession exacerbate other challenges for... Continue Reading
The foreclosure crisis has had a significant impact on the City of Chicago, changing the landscapes of community areas and contributing to the decline in the city’s population. National and regional organizations such as the Woodstock Institute and the Latino Policy Forum have conducted extensive research on the foreclosure crisis and its impact on various racial and ethnic groups. Woodstock Institute analysis reveals how predatory and subprime lenders targeted and preyed upon Latinos and other communities. The effects of these predatory loans—combined with those of the general financial crisis—have had a significant impact on Latino communities in Chicago.
There is no information... Continue Reading