Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA) Provides In-Language, In-Culture Support

CHICAGO – LUCHA, a Chicago-based, HUD-approved housing counseling agency and community housing development organization, is taking active steps in supporting Chicago’s at-risk immigrant population by connecting immigrants and families with mixed-immigration status to Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) Fair Housing Programs. The housing advocacy organization provides in-language, in-culture support through its various resources, such as its  CHA Community Alliance Program workshops.

Illinois houses an estimated 787,000 undocumented immigrants and their US-born children, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform. For these mixed-immigration households, navigating the maze of government and regulatory red-tape can be complicated, especially when culture and language barriers are added to the mix. This leaves many immigrants and families with mixed-immigration status with limited access to affordable housing.

“We’ve seen a significant gap in the communities we serve accessing the multitude of resources offered by the CHA, as well as very limited information available regarding guidelines for families with mixed-immigration status to access such resources,” said Lissette Castañeda, Executive Director at LUCHA. “In response to that need, we’ve partnered with the CHA to host a series of workshops aimed to help guide Chicago families, especially those of mixed-immigration status, through the application and qualification process for accessing these various resources, including affordable housing.”

Through the program, LUCHA currently hosts workshops for the communities of Albany Park, Armour Square, Humboldt Park, Jefferson Park, Logan Square, and Rogers Park. The workshops are free and hosted virtually in both English and Spanish. Multiple dates are offered, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Currently, workshops being offered include:

• Affordable Housing
• Affordable Senior Housing
• Housing Waitlist & Admissions

LUCHA serves all of Chicago’s diverse and immigrant communities and encourages anyone who may be experiencing difficulties accessing housing resources, is facing the risk of being pushed out of their neighborhood due to gentrification or is experiencing conflict with their landlord to visit LUCHA.org to learn about all the available resources including hands-on counseling by a staff member.

For more information about LUCHA and/or to register for a Community Alliance Program workshop, please visit lucha.org/cha-community-alliance.