OUR INITIATIVES
CAFHA is dedicated to advancing fair housing justice by centering its efforts on opportunities that increase housing stability and wealth-building for persons directly impacted by racist and discriminatory policies.
JUST HOUSING INITIATIVE
Nearly 1 in 3 Americans has an arrest record before age 25, which means that more people have an arrest record than a four-year college degree. In Cook County alone, there are more than 1 million residents with an arrest or conviction. 11,000 people return to Cook County each year from Illinois prisons and are nearly 10 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general public.
In 2015, CAFHA launched a coalition of over 100 organizations and returning citizens to advocate for the passage of the Just Housing Amendment Initiative in Cook County. Their commitment and dedication resulted in the 2019 passage of the Amendment. Today, CAFHA trains and equips people who have been directly impacted by the justice system to serve as Community Navigators to their peers, to create awareness about the protections offered under the amendment, and to connect people to social services and legal resources.
HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER WORKING GROUP
Homeownership is one of the most solid paths towards wealth-building for families and individuals. Public housing authorities (PHAs) have the power to assist public housing residents, Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) clients, and other low-income families in purchasing homes.
A recent study by CAFHA showed that PHAs were first authorized to create and implement homeownership programs in the year 2000, yet very few of these programs currently exist in select communities and most are underutilized and underfunded. Read the full report.
In response to local concerns, CAFHA has launched the only regional cross-sector coalition, inclusive of Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) holders, that meets regularly to workshop, from multiple angles, potential solutions for increased program accessibility and success.
Are you a housing industry professional or a renter that participates in a subsidized housing program? Contact us to learn more about how you can join the CAFHA HCV Working Group.
