Governor Quinn Announces $10 Million for Community-Based Supportive Housing

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced that landlords across Illinois can now apply for a portion of up to $10 million to help increase safe and affordable rental housing for people with special needs. The announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to ensure that all people have the opportunity to follow their dreams and reach their full potential.

"All residents of Illinois deserve a safe and high-quality place to call home regardless of their needs," Governor Quinn said. "These investments will help landlords across Illinois give the gifts of stability and independence. Community-based housing offers its tenants confidence and the resources they need to be productive members of society."

The investments announced today are available under the Rental Housing Support Program, one of the nation's largest state rental assistance programs. Last year, Governor Quinn signed a law that allows landlords providing supportive housing units to apply for subsidies under the Long Term Operating Support (LTOS) portion of the Rental Housing Support Program.

As a result of the law, up to $10 million in rental housing subsidies may be made available over 15 years to eligible landlords to help up to 150 households headed by a person with a disability. The program is administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and funded through a $10 fee collected from real estate document recordings.

"Governor Quinn's leadership has made it possible for more people with disabilities to live in safe, decent apartments in the community of their choice, and access the skills they need to achieve their full potential," IHDA Executive Director Mary R. Kenney said. "Supportive housing enhances the lives of people with disabilities by empowering them to live independently as part of a community."

Illinois has committed substantial resources to create permanent supportive housing units. However, many of Illinois' most vulnerable residents are still unable to access housing because their only source of income - Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance - is not enough for most affordable rental housing. Housing only becomes accessible to low-income people with disabilities when rental subsidies are provided.

Under Governor Quinn's administration, approximately 1,800 community-based supportive housing units have been financed across Illinois. In 2012, 20 percent of the multifamily units, or one in five, that IHDA financed were supportive housing.

With this new funding, applications will be available for landlords at www.ihda.org through June 10. Tenants for the newly subsidized units will be chosen through the State Referral Network.