Housing Authority of Champaign County Awarded $2.4 Million Dollar Loan

Housing Authority of Champaign County Awarded $2.4 Million Dollar Loan to Construct Permanent Supportive Housing Development Pinewood Place in Urbana IL

Champaign, IL-The Housing Authority of Champaign County has been awarded a loan in the amount of $2,484,090 from the Illinois Housing Development Authority. This loan will help finance the Permanent Supportive Housing Development Pinewood Place which will be located be located at 1606 E. Colorado in the City of Urbana.

This project is being developed under an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Urbana and the Housing Authority of Champaign County. Upon completion, Pinewood Place will provide twenty-four, one-bedroom units in 4 separate buildings for individuals with special needs. Preference will be provided to mentally, developmentally and physically disabled individuals with no income who are pending approval of Social Security benefits.

The apartment features will include an in-unit washer and dryer, dishwasher and microwave in addition to the stove and refrigerator. The community features will include an on-site office for case management services, a community room with computer stations and a community kitchen. Executive Director and CEO of the housing authority, David A. Northern, Sr. expressed the following: "I am pleased that our agency has been awarded the resources to develop this much-needed housing community. What makes me most excited is the illustration of how community partners can come together to provide an opportunity for individuals and families in need of specialized housing."

In addition to the physical amenities, this development will also support the needs of residents by collaborating with community partners to provide individualized supportive services on site to include, training on tasks of daily living such as cooking, housekeeping, laundry and personal budgeting with emphasis on prioritizing timely payment of basic services such as rent, utilities, food and transportation. Supportive services to be provided on a group or community basis will include computer classes, recreational activities, celebration events, movie and bingo nights, and general health education.

Under the MTW Choice Mobility Program, HACC will provide tenant-based vouchers to residents of the project to move to a unit of their choice with continued housing assistance. Tenant-based vouchers will be available when a resident has secured a stable source of income that will assure successful housing stability.