Housing Services

 

Comprehensive Housing Services Program

The goal of the Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program is to educate, inform, assess, listen, and find creative ways to empower participants in acquiring and maintaining affordable housing. 

Since 1974, the CEDA Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program has provided individualized one-on-one and group counseling education to families in the areas of pre-purchase and home buying, resolving or preventing mortgage delinquency or default, non-delinquency post purchase, improving mortgage terms, home improvement, locating, securing or maintaining residence in rental housing and shelter and services for the homeless.  All types of counseling include budget analysis to help client’s determine the best options available in their efforts of moving towards self-sufficiency.  Typically, the Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program serves over 2,000 unduplicated clients every year.

All counseling includes, but is not limited to:

• Pre-Purchase/Home buying counseling includes one-on-one and group counseling in the following areas: evaluating mortgagor readiness, fair housing education, budgeting for mortgage payment, finding alternative sources of credit, money management, identifying and avoiding predatory lending practices and learning how to purchase a home using the Section 8 Home Ownership Voucher Program.  Participants must complete eight to twelve course hours of counseling. A Homebuyers Certificate is received at the end of the counseling session.
• Resolving or Preventing Mortgage Delinquency or Default Counseling includes one-on-one and group counseling in the following areas: restructuring debt, establishing reinstatement plans, seeking loan forbearance and managing household finances.  This area of focus assists clients that are affected by predatory lending, foreclosure prevention and education, and pursuing loss mitigation strategies.  A  Certificate of Completion is received at the end of the counseling session.
• Non-Delinquency Post Purchase includes one-on-one counseling in the following areas: providing education materials on mortgage loan terms, home improvement and rehabilitation, property maintenance, grant and loan options for those needing housing assistance and the home equity conversion mortgage options.  A HECM Certificate is received at the end of the counseling session for those seeking home equity conversion mortgage options.
• Locating, Securing, or Maintaining Residence in Rental Housing includes one-on-one and group counseling in the following areas: helping clients obtain and utilize rent subsidies in market rate housing, public housing and transitional housing, budgeting for rent payments, education on client’s and landlord’s rental rights and explaining the eviction process.
• Shelter or Services for the Homeless includes one-on-one and group counseling in the following areas: emergency shelter stays in motel/hotel, overnight and seasonal shelters and other shelters, pending the client’s situation.  Food vouchers may be provided and is based on voucher availability. 

Eligibility Requirements: The Housing Services Program provides counseling to low-and-moderate income families and individuals living in or moving to suburban Cook County.   Specific emergency programs that provide rental, mortgage, and shelter assistance are available for families and individuals that fall at or below 150% of the poverty income guidelines. Special consideration may be given to client's not meeting these requirements. All applicants must participate in one-on-one housing counseling with a CEDA Housing Counselor for pre-purchase and home buying, resolving or preventing mortgage delinquency or default, non-delinquency post purchase, improving mortgage terms, home improvement, locating, securing or maintaining residence in rental housing and shelter services for the homeless.

For more information, contact the Housing Counselor located at the nearest Community Development Area (CDA) service center.

For rental housing subsidy and eligibility through our West Suburban Supportive Housing Program (WSSHP), applicants must show proof of  last residency in west suburban Cook County, must be either currently homeless and/or must have proof of eviction and facing homelessness, and must show potential for becoming self-sufficient.

For information about upcoming Home Maintenance and Homebuyers Education workshops, feel free to contact CEDA’s Housing Services Department at 312.795.8962 or email us at housing1@cedaorg.net

 

Transitional Housing

The Transitional Housing Program is designed to transition homeless individuals and families into permanent shelter. In partnership with West Suburban PADS, CEDA provides transitional shelter for a minimum of six months to a maximum of two years for homeless families and individuals.

Transitional Housing Program for U.S. Veterans : “Ordered Steps” For a New Beginning

Purpose:
CEDA Bloom-Rich has 12 units of transitional housing to serve the growing need for supportive housing by homeless veterans in far South Suburban Cook County.

Goals:
The ultimate goal of this program is to improve, expand and enhance the quality and delivery of services for the homeless veteran population in our area.  Through our unique partnerships, we will be able to provide a stable living situation and a comprehensive array of services designed to prepare them for successful, independent living and self-sufficiency.

Program Characteristics:
Some of the supportive services provided in the program are: comprehensive case management, employment and training, comprehensive housing counseling, medical care, clinical and substance abuse counseling, mental healthcare, independent living skills and residential supervision.

The participants of this program should be drug/alcohol free and able to provide a test reflecting that before entering the program.  Participants of this program must sign a contract committing themselves to a minimum six month stay in the facility and their adherence to the program regulations.

To Donate:
Please make checks payable to: CEDA Transitional Housing Program
c/o CEDA
208 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60604-1001

 

Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)

The Emergency Food and Shelter Program one month’s rent and mortgage payment assistance to clients living in and moving to suburban Cook County. It is designed to help individuals and families maintain or obtain permanent housing and achieve self-sufficiency.

Eligibility:

• No Income Restrictions for rent and mortgage assistance; however, must be able to provide proof of delinquency and ability to afford future payments.
• Individuals and families who are homeless or in imminent danger of becoming homeless.
• Must be a resident of suburban Cook County

 

Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP)

This program provides direct financial assistance and services to families living in suburban Cook County to prevent them from becoming homeless and help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized.

Eligibility:

• Must be at or below 50% of the Area Median Income Guideline.
• Clients must show current and/or past residence in Berwyn, Cicero, River Forest, Riverside, Evanston, and South and Northwest suburban Cook County.
• Program of LAST RESORT. Clients must prove that they have applied for other programs and have exhausted all other resources.

For More Information contact: CEDA Neighbors at Work (Evanston Residents Only) or the CEDA Suburban Call Center at (877) 426-6515.