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Homeownership Coalition for People with Disabilities
Springfield, IL |
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Background
The Capital Area Association of REALTORS (CAAR), along with a handful of other stakeholders, was a driving force in the formation of the Homeownership Coalition in July of 2000 to help people with disabilities achieve greater levels of independence through homeownership. Currently, the Homeownership Coalition is comprised of individuals representing 22 different community and government stakeholders including disability advocacy groups, non-profit organizations, REALTORS, state and local agencies, lenders and disability service organizations. Today, the Homeownership Coalition is administered by the Illinois Assistive Technology Program (IATP). |
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Homebuyer Services Offered
The program provides pre- and post-counseling, homebuyer education, down-payment and closing cost assistance, maintenance classes, home-modification funding, assistance with repairs and maintenance and early delinquency intervention. Since March of 2002 the Homeownership Coalition has assisted over 100 persons with disabilities and their families in attaining the dream of homeownership.
IATP is the sole adminstrator in Illinois of the Fannie Mae HomeChoice mortgage program, which is specifically designed for borrowers who have disabilities. The Homeownership Coalition is funded through various grants. In recent years grants have been received from such entities as: Illinois Housing Development Authority Trust Fund, Chicago; Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago; and, Wells Fargo Housing Foundation. |
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Service Areas
Sangamon, Menard, Christian, Logan, Macoupin and Montgomery counties (administered by IATP); Macon, Moultrie, Shelby, Coles, Clark and Cumberland (administered by SAIL); and the City of Chicago (administered by Access Living).
The Homeownership Coalition is now expanding this program to the rest of Illinois. This expansion will be facilitated through collaborative relationships with local Centers for Independent Living and local chapters of the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois.
You may contact Robin Benson, Project Manager at 217/522-7985 or 217/522-9966 (tty) or email her at rbenson@iltech.org to get you started on the right path to home ownership in the Sangamon, Menard, Christian, Logan, Macoupin and Montgomery counties.
Jeri Wooters, Independent Living Advocate, 217/876-8888 v/tty, for the SAIL service area.
Daisy Fite, Housing Coordinator, 312/253-7000 voice, 312/253-7016 tty for Access Living in Chicago.
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CAAR’s Contributions to the Homeownership Coalition
In addition to being a founding member of this Homeownership Coalition CAAR played a pivotal role in its early development by drafting the initial Fannie Mae HomeChoice application. Additionally, CAAR played a key role in bringing together representatives from the real estate community and the lending community to participate in this Homeownership Coalition. In March of 2002 the Homeownership Coalition really got off the ground with the hiring of former REALTOR Robin Benson as Project Manager. CAAR actively participated in the candidate screening and interviews that led to the hiring of Ms. Benson. Much of the program’s success can be attributed to Ms. Benson’s efforts. Today, CAAR continues to be a member of this Homeownership Coalition and continues to serve as a liaison to the real estate community and be participative in its Steering Committee.. |
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Updated 12/07 |
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