The Agency Connected Thousands of Chicagoans to Housing Resources and Funds in 2021, Plans for 2022
CHICAGO – Led by the belief that housing is a human right, Spanish Coalition for Housing (SCH) has been in overdrive since 2020 to support low-to-moderate income families in the Chicagoland area access vital resources to support them during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the most recent rental assistance application period for Chicago having passed and federal assistance funds running low, SCH is preparing to support Chicagoans for the day when COVID-19 relief funding comes to an end, as many will face uncertainties in regards to housing and utility payments.
Across the country, millions of people face limited or no access to affordable and stable housing, and the pandemic disproportionately added a hardship to our minority communities as it relates to housing. According to a report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Black and Hispanic households were more than twice as likely to report being behind on their payments than white households.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have helped thousands of families, and in 2021 alone, we assisted more than 5,600 households through our services. As we face the uncertainty of future COVID relief funding, we recognize that the need for resources will not go away, even if the funding does,” said Joseph Lopez, Executive Director of Spanish Coalition for Housing. “We are preparing for that day and trying to connect as many people as possible to resources now through our programs, such as our Community Alliance workshops.”
Through a partnership with the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) Community Alliance Program, SCH actively engages with diverse communities across Chicago to bring awareness of valuable resources and housing programs through hands-on educational workshops supported with one-on-one counseling. The program supports individuals in need of affordable housing for individuals, families and seniors, as well as landlords. Workshops are free, conducted in English and Spanish and offered in person or virtually.
To learn more about and register for a free Community Alliance workshop, visit www.cha-sc4housing.org.
SCH staff members invite anyone interested in their services or that has questions about available resources to email (help@sch4housing.org) or call for dedicated assistance (North Region: 773-342-7575; Southeast Region: 773-933-7575; Southwest Region: 312-850-2660)