The Corporation for Affordable Homes in McHenry County (CAHMCO) has announced that it was awarded a $2,500,000 grant for permanent supportive housing in McHenry County. Congratulations!
CAHMCO applied for the grant on May 4 for funding by the State Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Last night at a meeting of the Transitional Youth Work Group (TYWG), which meets at the McHenry County Mental Health Board, Executive Director of CAHMCO Mary Lu Seidel explained the grant.
This grant will be of special interest to certain at-risk young adults, because they may be able to qualify for independent housing which they can actually afford.
"Supportive housing" is for 1) those who, but for housing, cannot access and make effective use of treatment and supportive services in the community and for 2) those who, but for supportive services (for example, mental health services), cannot access and maintain stable housing in the community.
A candidate, or applicant, must be in some type of program that provides case management, and the referral to CAHMCO is made by the Case Manager.
The $2.5 million is to develop and manage up to 24 housing units. These may include efficiency apartments and apartments of one or more bedrooms. These will not be "group homes". CAHMCO will buy, rehab (or build) housing on lots or properties which have been foreclosed. Real estate taxes will likely be waived on these properties, which is a big step toward making them affordable.
Rents will be affordable to people earning approximately 30% of the area median income. No monthly rent subsidies are planned. This is permanent housing (not transitional housing), but it is for transitional-age residents.
An example of rent is: for a studio apartment for one person earning $15,840/year ($7.75/hour x 51 weeks/year), the monthly rent would be $396, including utilities.
Now, that's affordable!
For more information, go to www.cahmco.org or call 815.206.5805
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3 comments:
Gus, Where did this grant come from? Who is funding it? Correct me if I'm wrong but the state cried poor about the budget recently and some needed services for everyone (not just people who can't afford to provide for themselves) were cut. Didn't Turning Point and other local outlets lose out? Of all people, you should be the one outraged! What type of crowd is going to live in these houses so cheaply? I'm sure it will keep the police busy...that way you can complain about how they do their job!
Let me see if I can help CAHMCO with this problem.
Avg rental house purchase price: 180,000
Avg McHenry Co. Tax: just under $6000
Cost of taxes on rental per month $500.
Just get the county to not levy taxes on rentals and you can lower the rent $500 per month.
Those are good numbers, but I don't think CAHMCO tenants are going to be living in $180,000 housing.
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at Cunat's Autumnwood rental of a remodeled utility closet or storage room (361 sq. ft.) for $650/month. The Woodstock City Council sure helped Cunat out.
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