he Moline Housing Authority and its subsidiary organization, the Moline Housing Development Corporation, broke ground on Parkview Apartments, a 22-unit permanent supportive housing project, on Wednesday, June 10.
Public Announcements
Moline breaks ground on 22 permanent supportive housing units
Jun. 17, 2026
John Afoun, executive director of the Moline Housing Authority, said the complex will serve those on the Moline Housing Authority’s waitlist. That list includes 1,030 people, he said.
“There is a tremendous need for housing nationwide and here in the Quad-Cities,” Afoun said. “We believe a little drop of water makes a mighty ocean. We may not be able to address all the housing needs, but the little we can do goes a long way."
Chicago pushes $21M home-purchase program, state expands its own
Jun. 17, 2026
(The Center Square) – Affordable housing continues to be an area Illinois leaders seek to address through expanded taxpayer-funded spending at multiple levels of government in the state.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson touted what he said was a success in beginning to build new affordable housing through new policies, which he said would create generational wealth – which he noted would be particularly impactful for the city’s African American population while at a city Juneteenth event.
A release earlier this month announcing the ‘Homegrown Purchase Assistance Program’ explained that the new program would be funded through an existing $1.25 billion Housing and Economic Development Bond taken out by Johnson’s administration.
Housing Authority of Jeff Co welcomes National Housing Compliance
Jun. 17, 2026
MOUNT VERNON — The Emma J. Hawthorne Family Training & Activity Center in Mount Vernon has received a $5,000 donation from National Housing Compliance.
On Tuesday, the Housing Authority of Jefferson County (JCAC) welcomed several representatives from National Housing Compliance to tour the Emma Hawthorne Center, visit with the public, and play games with the kids. During the visit, the representatives presented the $5,000 donation to the Emma Hawthorne Center, which will be used to purchase new supplies and provide a stipend for a summer employee, said Michele Williams, HAJC President/Chief Executive Officer.
The HAJC operates the Emma Hawthorne Center at 1000 S. Ninth St. in Mount Vernon, a facility that offers educational and recreational programming for local youth. National Housing Compliance is the contract administrator for the State of Illinois, on behalf of HUD.
“It’ll be used to buy supplies for the students, the kids that are coming in here,” Williams said of the donation. “We can also (use the funds) to pay someone a stipend if they helped out over the summer. … We really appreciate them (National Housing Compliance) for helping us with the Emma Hawthorne Center, for helping bring in updated supplies because our supplies were outdated.”
Gov. Pritzker signs Illinois $55.9 billion budget
Jun. 17, 2026
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—With a focus to aid struggling families, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signs the $55.9 billion budget for 2027’s fiscal year.
“I’m proud to sign Illinois’ eighth consecutive balanced budget — one that lower costs for everyday Illinoisans, protects our state’s fiscal health, and continues our economic progress,” stated Governor JB Pritzker. “Working families need relief, and this budget delivers by investing in housing, food access, education, our healthcare system, and other necessities that make life more affordable.”
Illinois will use around $10 billion on education and provide tens of millions to help feed families who no longer qualify for SNAP benefits.
Instead of next month, the state’s increase for the gas tax pauses for six months.
Illinois Housing Development Authority Promotes Homeownership Assistance Programs
Jun. 17, 2026
June is National Homeownership Month, and the Illinois Housing Development Authority is encouraging residents to explore programs designed to make buying a home more affordable.
The agency says it has helped more than 3,100 Illinois residents become homeowners this year through 32 million dollars in down payment assistance.
IHDA offers housing counseling, pre-purchase education courses, and several down payment assistance programs for eligible homebuyers. The agency's newest program, Access Home, provides up to 15-thousand dollars in down payment and closing cost assistance for first-time buyers.
Federal Indictment Charges Former Chicago Housing Authority Director and Construction Company Owner With Engaging in $4.8 Million Kickback Scheme
Jun. 10, 2026
CHICAGO — A former property director for the Chicago Housing Authority was given more than $421,000 in kickbacks from the owner of a construction company in exchange for steering that owner more than $4.8 million in construction and renovation work at CHA properties, according to an indictment returned today in federal court in Chicago.
The indictment accuses RYAN ROSS, formerly a Director in the CHA’s Property and Asset Management Department, of receiving the kickbacks in 2023 and 2024 from VANESSA RHODES, the President of Bell’s Better Buildings, Inc., a Chicago company that did business as Twenty Eleven Construction, Inc. In exchange for the kickbacks, Ross used his official position as a Director at the CHA to fraudulently award construction, renovation, and other work to Twenty Eleven Construction and another company affiliated with Rhodes, the indictment states. As part of the scheme, Ross and Rhodes also caused Rhodes’s husband to falsely represent himself to CHA property managers as an employee of the affiliated company who would purportedly complete the work on CHA units, the indictment states.
Illinois Senate Democrats outline housing affordability package
Jun. 9, 2026
SPRINGFIELD — As the nation grapples with a growing housing affordability crisis, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus stood together during a press conference Tuesday to outline their package of proposals aimed at making renting and owning a home more affordable, fair and accessible for working families across the state.
As the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development takes steps to slash funding for affordable housing and propose strict work requirements and time limits for people who rely on housing assistance, State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) is fighting to make sure Illinois does not turn its back on those who are already struggling under Senate Bill 608.
The measure would clearly establish that housing authorities and private owners of subsidized housing in Illinois can’t mandate work requirements or place time limits on residents. According to Housing Action Illinois, more than 200,000 households in Illinois participate in the Section 8 program – most of whom are older adults, families with children and people with disabilities.
“Cost of living is on the rise and now the Trump administration is working to make it harder for residents to access affordable, quality housing options by imposing work requirements and time limits for those participating in federal housing assistance programs,” said Villivalam. “We must stand up for our neighbors and ensure their ability to live and thrive in our neighborhoods, not make them work extra just to sleep somewhere at night.”
How the Illinois Senate’s housing proposals compare to Gov. JB Pritzker’s BUILD plan
Jun. 9, 2026
MOORE’S SUMMARY: With just days left in the spring legislative session, Illinois Senate Democrats unveiled an eight-bill housing package incorporating tweaked elements of Gov. JB Pritzker’s Building Up Illinois Developments, or BUILD, plan and a slew of progressive initiatives.
“We’ve always been consistent from the beginning that we want to work with the governor to achieve accessible and affordable housing,” said state Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago. “We’re going to do that, though, in collaboration with our constituents and with the organizations that have been working on affordable housing issues for decades.”
Villivalam said Pritzker and his team are “aware” of the proposal and that they “share the common goal” of housing affordability. He said this represented “the package that had support across our caucus, and so that’s why we’re presenting that today.”
All the bills in the Senate package passed out of the Senate Executive Committee Tuesday evening, though many faced tough questioning from lawmakers in both parties and acknowledgements from bill sponsors that amendments would likely be forthcoming.
The governor’s office declined to comment on the Senate plan, though they slipped in favor of two bills containing parts of BUILD. Pritzker mentioned housing when asked by a reporter in Champaign on Tuesday what issues he’d like addressed before the end of May.
“Housing is a hugely important issue,” Pritzker said. “I think we’ve raised that issue. Lots of bills that are running through the Senate and the House right now and we’re hopeful to see some of those pass and end up on my desk.”
Quincy applying for state grants to address neighborhood eyesores
Jun. 9, 2026
QUINCY, Illinois - The City of Quincy could soon receive additional funding to help address eyesores around town as part of the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s effort to redevelop and beautify dilapidated homes across the state.
The city has already benefited from the program in the past, and is now hoping to do so for a third time through the Strong Communities Program. Quincy City Council members approved moving forward with the grant application process this week.
The program provides grants through the Rebuild Illinois capital budget to address vacant, abandoned and deteriorating properties. Funding can be used to clear or beautify those properties in an effort to increase property values and generate additional tax revenue.
Batavia to give $1 million for apartment development
Jun. 9, 2026
The city of Batavia is giving $1 million to a developer to buy and develop land for a low- to moderate-income apartment building.
This week, city council members unanimously approved the agreement with Fox River Affordable Housing Corp.
The 72-unit building, the Residence at River Point, will be constructed at 400 S. River St. (Route 25), where a limestone quarry once operated.
The developer expects to close on the property in July and take about 14 months to build the project.
Macoupin Housing Services cuts ribbons
Sep. 29, 2016
Representatives from Macoupin Housing Services (MHS) and the Macoupin County Housing Authority (MCHA) cut the ribbons on three tax credit housing developments in the county at ceremonies held Sept. 23.
Home tours were available to area residents and local dignitaries at the 14 homes built in Staunton, nine in Bunker Hill and 15 in Gillespie. The homes were built through a low-income housing tax credit created under the 1986 Tax Reform Act. It gives incentives for the use of private equity in the development of affordable housing aimed at low-income Americans. The program is administered at the state level through the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), which receives a fixed allocation of credits based on population.
The homes have to meet strict requirements with regard to construction standards and energy efficiency.
