Project Grant FEOI230023

PURPOSE: SOUTH SUBURBAN HOUSING CENTER (SSHC) IS THE NON-PROFIT QUALIFIED FAIR HOUSING ORGANIZATION (QFHO) SERVING OVER 100 MUNICIPALITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE SOUTH CHICAGO METROPOLITAN REGION FOR THE LAST 48 YEARS AS WELL AS UNDERSERVED AREAS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL ADDRESS ACTIVITIES NEEDED TO ASSIST PROTECTED CLASS FAMILIES RECOVERING FROM HOUSING DISTRESS CAUSED BY HISTORIC PATTERNS OF SEGREGATION EXACERBATED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC; ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: PRODUCE 4 LARGE GROUP EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EVENTS PROVIDING FAIR HOUSING/LENDING RIGHTS, FORECLOSURE/EVICTION, APPRAISAL AND TAX ASSESSMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AWARENESS INFORMATION TO 120 STAKEHOLDERS. CONDUCT FAIR HOUSING ACT PROTECTIONS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES PRESENTATION(S), EDUCATING 40 MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS, REALTORS, CIL/DISABILITY RIGHTS AGENCY STAFF, AND PROTECTED CLASS MEMBERS. COMPILE UPDATED FHA ACCESSIBLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES FOR MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND DISTRIBUTE UPDATED GUIDELINES, RESOURCES, BROCHURES, AND MORE TO 250 BUILDERS, ARCHITECTS, AND MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS IN THE PROJECT AREA. DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT OUTDOOR SIGNAGE CAMPAIGN ADVERTISEMENTS, WITH AN ESTIMATED 6,000,000 VIEWER IMPRESSIONS, TO EDUCATE EXPRESSWAY DRIVERS AND/OR COMMUTER BUS RIDERS OF FAIR HOUSING/LENDING RIGHTS, FORECLOSURE/EVICTION, APPRAISAL AND TAX ASSESSMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AWARENESS INFORMATION.; EXPECTED OUTCOMES: MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER OF MORTGAGE AND RENTAL-DISTRESSED FAMILIES IN MAJORITY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR RECEIVING FAIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT INFORMATION IN AN EFFORT TO EDUCATE AND PREVENT VICTIMIZATION BY FRAUDULENT OR DISCRIMINATORY LENDING AND RENTAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, GIVING RESIDENTS A FIGHTING CHANCE TO RECOVER THEIR HOMES AND REGAIN THEIR ECONOMIC FOOTING. INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE IMPACT OF NEW LOCAL PROTECTIONS FOR SOURCE OF INCOME, CRIMINAL HISTORY, APPRAISAL BIAS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES HARMING RESIDENTS IN PREDOMINANTLY AFFECTED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, GIVING RESIDENTS THE TOOLS NEEDED TO ORGANIZE AND COMBAT ONGOING DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES. INFORM THE BUILDING INDUSTRY AND MUNICIPAL BUILDING DEPARTMENTS OF FAIR HOUSING ACT (FHA) ACCESSIBILITY DESIGN STANDARDS AND CONDUCT DISABILITY RIGHTS PRESENTATIONS FOR COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND PROTECTED CLASS MEMBERS, EDUCATING THEM ON EXISTING RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS UNDER THE FHA. ADVANCE DIGITAL EDUCATION AND OUTREACH CENTERED ON FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS AWARENESS BY INCREASING SERVICE AREA-TARGETED CAMPAIGNS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IMPROVING USER ACCESS TO THE SSHC WEBSITE THROUGH WEB DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL CONTENT CREATION, AS WELL AS ENHANCING CAPACITY FOR VIRTUAL GROUP EVENTS TO COMPLEMENT IN-PERSON ENGAGEMENTS. CONTINUE THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN SSHC AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, HOUSING PROVIDERS, LENDERS, AND HOUSING ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS TO FOCUS COLLECTIVE RESOURCES ON RECOVERY EFFORTS IN OUR DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES.; INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: INDIVIDUALS SEEKING RE-ENTRY OR FORMERLY IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WILL LEARN ABOUT THEIR FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS UNDER STATE AND COOK COUNTY LAW, AS WELL AS CRIMINAL BACKGROUND PROTECTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR SERVICE AREA. BLACK AND LATINX HOMEOWNERS WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED INFORMATION ON HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND REPORT APPRAISAL BIAS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REFINANCE OR SELL THEIR HOMES, AS WELL AS THEIR RIGHTS TO RECEIVE REAL ESTATE TAX EXEMPTIONS AND TO APPEAL OVERLY HIGH ASSESSMENTS, AS A LONG-TERM GOAL IMPROVING MARKET VALUES AND DEVELOPMENT IN THESE DISINVESTED COMMUNITIES. SIMILAR AREAS IMPACTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM WILL BENEFIT FROM BOTH AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE AND EDUCATION ON ORGANIZING TO IMPACT CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES WILL ALSO BE SERVED BY THIS PROJECT BY INCREASING AWARENESS OF FHA ACCESSIBLE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS, AS WELL AS PSAS AND EVENTS FOCUSED ON EDUCATING INDIVIDUALS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS TO ACCOMMODATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS. THE BUILDERS, DEVELOPERS, AND ARCHITECTS; SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: NONE