Spanish Coalition Continues to Narrow the Homeownership Gap in Chicago
Despite soaring rental prices, diminishing COVID-19 housing resources and other barriers that minorities continue to face when it comes to finding housing, Latino homeownership in the U.S. is on the rise and is expected to increase by 70 percent over the next two decades. Helping make this statistic a reality is Spanish Coalition for Housing (SCH), a local housing counseling agency that works to narrow the homeownership gap here in Chicago by helping renters with the transition to first-time homeowners.
SCH works with and prepares historically marginalized communities to access the resources needed to reach their housing goals – whether their goal is to own or rent. The housing counseling agency provides the community with free educational services, counseling and hands-on workshops, including the affordable housing workshops as a part of the Chicago Housing Authority’s (CHA) Community Alliance.
“For the past 50 years, our goal at Spanish Coalition for Housing is to remove barriers that historically underserved populations have faced. We help Chicagoans who are renting access affordable housing to become more financially independent with the hopes they can save and become first-time homeowners,” said Joseph Lopez, Executive Director of SCH. “In 2022, we were able to help 68 households to purchase and become first-time homeowners and over 1,100 households access affordable housing even as rental prices remain high on the other side of the pandemic. We’ve seen how the pandemic has prolonged housing inequity among our Latino and Black communities, and we want to help break that cycle and create opportunities for generational wealth through affordable and sustainable housing and homeownership.”
While Latino homeownership is expected to rise, Black homeownership rates are lower than previous generations. SCH is committed to supporting all Chicagoans to achieve their homeownership goals and their programs are available to anybody that needs them.
Furthermore, through its partnership with the CHA Community Alliance, SCH has been able to deepen its roots within Chicago’s communities, increase awareness of SCH and CHA resources and programs and most importantly be more financially independent.
To learn more about the free services offered by SCH or register for a free workshop, visit www.sc4housing.org/cha.
SCH staff invites anyone interested in their services or anyone who has questions about available home buying or rental resources to email (help@sc4housing.org) or call for dedicated assistance (North Region: 773-342-7575; Southeast Region: 773-933-7575; Southwest Region: 312-850-2660).
Spanish Coalition sigue reduciendo la brecha existente en la propiedad de vivienda de Chicago
A pesar de los altos costos de las rentas, la reducción de recursos de apoyo para la vivienda en respuesta al COVID-19 y otros obstáculos que siguen enfrentando las minorías al buscar vivienda, la propiedad de vivienda por parte de los latinos en Estados Unidos está aumentando y se espera que incremente un 70 por ciento en las próximas dos décadas. Ayudar a hacer realidad esta estadística es uno de los objetivos de Spanish Coalition for Housing (SCH), una agencia local de asesoría para la vivienda que se dedica a reducir la brecha existente en la propiedad de vivienda en Chicago, a través del apoyo a quienes están rentando en su transición hacia ser propietarios de vivienda por primera vez.
SCH trabaja con comunidades que históricamente han sido marginadas y las prepara para acceder a los recursos de apoyo necesarios para alcanzar sus metas de vivienda, ya sea de renta o de propiedad. Esta agencia de asesoría para la vivienda brinda a la comunidad servicios educativos, asesoría y talleres prácticos gratuitos, incluyendo talleres sobre vivienda asequible, como parte de la Alianza Comunitaria de la Autoridad de la Vivienda de Chicago (CHA, por sus siglas en inglés).
“Durante los últimos 50 años, nuestra meta en Spanish Coalition for Housing ha sido eliminar las barreras que han enfrentado las poblaciones históricamente marginadas. Ayudamos a los habitantes de Chicago que están rentando a que tengan acceso a viviendas asequibles para volverse más independientes económicamente, con la esperanza de poder ahorrar y convertirse en dueños de una vivienda por primera vez”, señaló Joseph López, Director Ejecutivo de SCH. “En 2022, pudimos ayudar a 68 familias a adquirir una vivienda y convertirse en propietarios por primera vez; y a más de 1,100 familias a que tuvieran acceso a una vivienda asequible, aun cuando las rentas siguen estando altas después de la pandemia. Hemos visto cómo la pandemia ha prolongado la inequidad en la vivienda en nuestras comunidades latinas y afroamericanas y queremos ayudar a romper ese ciclo y crear oportunidades para la riqueza generacional a través de viviendas y de la propiedad de viviendas asequibles y sustentables”.
Mientras que se espera que la propiedad de vivienda por parte de los latinos aumente, las tasas de propietarios de vivienda afroamericanos son más bajas que en generaciones anteriores. SCH tiene el compromiso de apoyar a todos los habitantes de Chicago a que logren sus metas de propiedad de vivienda; y sus programas están disponibles para cualquier persona que los necesite.
Además, a través de su colaboración con la Alianza Comunitaria de la CHA, SCH ha podido lograr un mayor arraigo en las comunidades de Chicago, aumentar el conocimiento sobre los recursos y programas de SCH y la CHA, y, sobre todo, ser más independientes económicamente.
Para obtener más información acerca de los servicios gratuitos que ofrece SCH o para inscribirse en un taller gratuito, favor de visitar www.sc4housing.org/cha.
El personal de SCH invita a todas las personas interesadas en sus servicios o que tengan cualquier duda acerca de los recursos de apoyo disponibles sobre la compra o renta de casas, a que envíen un correo electrónico (help@sch4housing.org) o llamen para recibir atención personalizada (región norte: 773-342-7575; región sureste: 773-933-7575; región suroeste: 312-850-2660).
Do you know a young person who may need some extra help? Maybe they are having problems at home, in school, or are enduring difficult experiences like grief, loss, unstable living environments, or other traumatic events. They don’t need to go through it alone–Mercy Home can help!
As the school year draws near, we will have openings in our Home this fall for boys ages 11-24.
If a young person is committed to changing their life, Mercy Home can be a great solution!
If you know of a youth who is struggling, there is hope. To refer a young person in need, please contact Mercy Home by calling (312) 738-7590, send us an email, or visit our website for more information.
Whether Valentine’s Day is date night or a family affair, our Comedy Jam has something for everyone! Brought to you by Mikey O’s Comedians for Communities, enjoy an evening of laughs featuring two of America’s rising stars in comedy: Ana Belaval and Eli Castro.
All proceeds of the Valentine’s Day Comedy Jam will support La Casa Norte, whose mission is to serve youth and families experiencing homelessness.
Questions? Email Events@LaCasaNorte.org or call (773)276-4900 x254
As part of Erie Family Health Centers’ continued partnership with the Health Justice Project, Erie and LAF will be hosting FREE community legal clinics to connect people to attorneys to help with the following legal issues:
- public benefits
- child custody/support
- divorce
- domestic violence
- expungement
- housing/eviction
- powers of attorney
- and other civil legal issues
Upcoming clinics will be held at:
Erie Division Street Health Center
2418 W. Division Street, Chicago
5:30pm to 7:30pm
Doors open at 5pm
NO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY to speak to an attorney
For additional monthly clinic locations and dates, please call 312.423.5938
El Rescate is excited to announce its partnership with TRANS Chicago in providing a safe space for youth ages 12 to 24.
If you are couch surfing, have run away, have no where to sleep at night, or have been locked out of your home come check out the Drop-In for services or just to hang out and get to know the staff. We meet every Saturday from 12pm to 4pm at 2753 W. Division St.
We hope to see you there!
El Rescate
Download flyer here.
Paying your mortgage each month can be hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. Through the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the Hardest Hit Program is designed to help homeowners by providing financial assistance in order to pay their mortgage. If you qualify, you can earn up to $35,000 in financial assistance.
Thousands of homeowners have received assistance and saved their homes through the Hardest Hit Program. You could too!
Don’t delay. Apply today at www.illinoishardesthit.org
LUCHA’s Housing Counseling team is proud to support this program by referring clients to these services.
LUCHA (the Spanish word for “struggle”) advances housing as a human right by empowering communities- particularly the Latino and Spanish-speaking populations- through advocacy, education, affordable housing development and comprehensive housing services.
This FREE workshop provides the education and tools necessary to purchase and sustain a home in today’s market.
Topics include:
· Home-ownership Readiness · Shopping for a Home
· Managing your Money · Understanding Credit
· Protecting your Investment
At the end, participants will receive the HomeBuyer Education Certificate, a useful tool when applying for down payment assistance. NOTE: Must complete both parts (12 hours total) to be eligible to receive certificate.
WHEN: Saturday, November 18th
8:30am -3pm
WHERE: Center for Changing Lives
1955 N. Saint Louis Ave #101
Chicago, IL 60651
To Reserve your spot, please contact:
Imelda Rodriguez
Imelda@cclconnect.org
773-342-6210 x 230
Did you know that by completing one of LUCHA’s Homebuying Workshop’s you can receive a certificate that allows you to apply for down payment assistance on a home? On average, individuals who complete the workshop receive $13,000 in down payment assistance to put towards a new home.
Come & learn the essentials to purchasing your first home! Workshop topics include:
- Down payment & closing cost assistance
- Loan eligibility
- Debt management
- Mortgage loan process
- Responsibilities of homeownership
Did you know that by completing one of LUCHA’s Homebuying Workshop’s you can receive a certificate that allows you to apply for down payment assistance on a home? On average, individuals who complete the workshop receive $13,000 in down payment assistance to put towards a new home.
Come & learn the essentials to purchasing your first home! Workshop topics include:
- Down payment & closing cost assistance
- Loan eligibility
- Debt management
- Mortgage loan process
- Responsibilities of homeownership
Did you know that by completing one of LUCHA’s Homebuying Workshop’s you can receive a certificate that allows you to apply for down payment assistance on a home? On average, individuals who complete the workshop receive $13,000 in down payment assistance to put towards a new home.
Come & learn the essentials to purchasing your first home! Workshop topics include:
- Down payment & closing cost assistance
- Loan eligibility
- Debt management
- Mortgage loan process
- Responsibilities of homeownership