QAP Advocacy & Development Reforms

QAP Request/Comment #1

Background: For those who value communities with a mix of people of various incomes, ages and needs, or who seek to mitigate the negative influences of disinvestment or reinvestment activity over time, service-enriched, permanently affordable housing is a cornerstone resource.

Request/Comment: QAP applicants for affordable housing support should be awarded one extra point in scoring if they can demonstrate that their proposed project will be “permanently affordable”.

Further Context: Applicants including limited-equity coops, shared equity housing, projects subject to public or private 99-year lease or use restrictions, and community land trusts might be eligible for preferred scoring as long as they can demonstrate that affordability restrictions cannot be easily subordinated. Even as an incremental modification in scoring, this measure might spark dialogue in community development planning and programming.

QAP Request/Comment #2

Background: Affordable Housing property management is labor and cost-intensive work, made more difficult with compliance requirements and tenants needs for specialized services to keep them stable in their homes. When such services are delivered and paid by other means, property management benefits, and projects become more economically sustainable. Though DOH and IHDA recognize the need for this kind of funding, they concentrate on support of precisely defined acquisition, development and property management/building operations.

Request/Comment: QAP applicants could request property management fees of up to 10%. When requested, the differential would be allocated to select “Property Management Support Services” for affordable housing residents, provided by qualified staff, directly or via contract, that benefit property management with:

  • tenant communications and meetings;
  • triaged interventions to avert evictions and problem solve with tenants;
  • transition services to assist tenants with move-ins, transfers and move-outs; and
  • coordination of care support to facilitate communications with outside agencies providing support services to tenants.

Further Context: Such services would not take the place of  social service agency assistance, which tend to include traditional case management, clinical or non-clinical health and wellness programming, “wealth building” services and training, civic organizing and community engagement  activities – which should all be separately funded. For more background or examples of eligible services visit vophousing.com/property-management-support-services.

Tax Relief for Affordable Housing Owners

Senator Mike Simmons and Voice of the People in Uptown is inviting representatives of affordable housing owners to “Meet the Commissioner” — Samantha Steele of the Cook County Board of Review at a short presentation and reception Wednesday, July 19th, 4 pm at Truman College.

You’ll want to meet Ms. Steele, District 2 Commissioner, who has been elected by citizens of northern Chicagoland and charged with helping to make our property tax system more fair and equitable through property tax appeals.

She’ll be joined by other recently elected public officials, including 13th District State Representative Hoan Huynh and Alderwoman Angela Clay of the 46th Ward, who are committed to advancing support to affordable housing owners who are key to maintaining the economic, racial and needs diversity we have in Chicago communities. SEE OUR ANNOUNCEMENT FLYER.

Sen. Mike Simmons, session host, along with Voice of the People, a non-profit and tenant-led housing organization, are bringing affordable housing owners together on issues of common concern, beginning with property taxes.

Property taxes that are too high can threaten cash flows and long term viability of affordable housing developments — even as owners absorb hidden “social costs” not always reflected in the property financial statements, nor submitted as background for assessment and appeals. This will be the subject of a short presentation by our resource person, Craig Donnewald, Esq. of Finkel Martwick & Colson.

The information is not legal advice, but guidance to non-profit and affordable housing owners or partner representatives, asset managers and property management professionals who work closely with legal counsel or consultants seeking relief with property tax appeals.

If you’d like to attend, please rsvp to events@vophousing.com or call 773.769.2442 for more information.

Voice of the People in Uptown Awarded $50,000 to Launch Senior Services

Uptown, Chicago  – The RRF Foundation for Aging has awarded community-based nonprofit Voice of the People in Uptown a $50,000 grant in support of the organization’s new Resident Opportunity Services Program that serves the 14 Voice owned and affiliated buildings. 

The funding is part of the RRF Foundation for Aging’s priority to support organizations that make housing more affordable and provide coordinated services that enable older people to live safely in community settings and improve the quality of life for older people. 

Voice has been providing and advocating for affordable housing in the Uptown and Greater Chicago community for over 50 years. As part of the organization’s strategic plan for the next 50 years, in FY2019 Voice launched its new program Resident Opportunity Services. The program provides and connects Voice’s 214 households with social, cultural, recreational, and economic opportunities to improve residents’ housing stability and overall quality of life. 

The grant will increase the program’s capacity allowing for staff to provide senior specific services to the over 40% of Voice households that include at least one household member who is a senior, has a reported disability or health risk. This is one of ten resident identified priority areas for the expansion of Resident Opportunity Services, the need for which became vital after the tragic passing of a long-time Voice resident in the Fall of 2019.

Read Full Announcement Here.

Voice Early Voting Guide

With only 10 days until the 2020 Presidential Election, voting and voting early, has become increasingly important. Voting this year looks very different than in past elections, please find resources and information below about voting from now until November 3rd. 

Online Voter Registration has passed and I wasn’t able to register…can I still vote??

Yes! You have two options, you can either register to vote during Grace Period Registration, which is currently running until Election day, or on Election Day (November 3rd) at the polls. The Grace Period Registration takes place in person at the Clerk’s Office at 69 W WASHINGTON ST CHICAGO, IL 60602. You must bring two pieces of identification to register, one with a current address, and immediately cast your ballot after registering to vote- so research before and wear a mask! 

Dates, times, and more information on Grace Period Registration can be found here

If you would like to register on Election Day at the polls, you can only do so at your home precinct. You must bring two forms of identification, one containing your current address. You can find your voting location using this tool

Do I still have time to Mail-in my Ballot?
Will my vote be counted? 

Absolutely, but you also have other options! In Illinois, your mail-in ballot must be postmarked by Election Day (November 3rd) and be received 14 days after the election (November 17th). Information on how and where to send your ballot is included in the materials you should have received in the mail. Unfortunately, Illinois does not offer tracking of your ballot, so here are some other options for the ballot you received in the mail: 

  1. Fill out your ballot at home, wear a mask, and locate your nearest Secured Dropbox location, at every early voting site, to drop off safely in person until 7 pm on Election Day
  2. Wear a mask and bring your mail-in ballot with you to an in-person polling location, surrender to the election judge and vote in-person using the new ballot provided

Where and When can I vote early? 

Early voting is currently taking place in all 50 wards during these times, ward locations found here

  • Monday-Friday 8:30am – 7:00pm
  • Saturday-Sunday 9:00am – 5:00pm



Election Day
November 3rd 6am – 7pm

For a comprehensive list of voting information, including polling locations, deadlines, and locating a drop box for your mail-in ballot, in Illinois please visit this link.