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In the spring of 2002, DHAC joined a regional effort featured on WTTW, Chicago Channel 11, entitled “CHICAGO MATTERS: INSIDE HOUSING”, which examined the forces that have shaped our region's current housing troubles, as well as the issues of race and class with which housing and residential patterns are inextricably linked. Community gatherings featuring panel discussions on various perspectives of affordable housing followed, i.e., lack of supportive and subsidized housing for elderly and disabled people, neighborhood tear-downs, transportation barriers for workers. In fall of 2002, DHAC joined a statewide consortium of housing advocacy groups to provide testimony from multiple DuPage sectors during statewide legislative hearings on affordable housing. With DHAC’s leadership, 17 organizations and individuals gave valuable testimony on the housing problems experienced in DuPage, with recommendations for how the state should respond. The statewide effort led to several legislative initiatives in the Illinois General Assembly, starting in 2003, to address the housing crisis in Illinois.
Another countywide gathering was held during Affordable Housing Week in 2003, hosted by Bob Schillerstrom, the County Board Chairman, with Rep. Judy Biggert as the main speaker.
Each year, DHAC has identified priority issues at the local, state and national level, creating strategies for pushing forward those issues, including postcard campaigns through area churches, publicity, and in-district meetings to build relationships with elected officials, as well as trips to Springfield.
Partnerships. From its inception, DHAC has received expert staff support from three organizations: Housing Action Illinois, Business and Professional People for the Public Interest, and the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. In March 2006, DHAC partnered with the DuPage Homeownership Center to gather community leaders from various sectors in a Symposium entitled, “Homeownership: Benchmark for a Vital Community”. Three Symposia, along with working research and action groups have engaged people from government, banking, education, business, realtors, and churches on behalf of increasing and preserving affordable homeownership opportunities for first-time homebuyers in DuPage. Task forces and working groups have been meeting, first in a research phase, and secondly in an action-focused phase. The most recent Symposium was held in November 2007.
Current Legislative Priorities: See DHAC Legislative Action Agenda.
Organization: DHAC meets on a monthly basis and current meeting information is under upcoming events. Priorities are set by the coalition, with expert staff support by statewide advocacy organizations, i.e., Housing Action Illinois, Business and Professional People for the Public Interest, the Supportive Housing and the Housing Roundtable. The priorities are affirmed at an Annual Meeting in January, and regular updates are provided to participants through email communication. The structure of DHAC is volunteer, and communication is generally by email or phone. The DHAC leadership team consists of Mary Ellen Durbin, executive director of the People's Resource Center, Joyce Hothan, executive director of BRIDGE Communities, Inc, and Kathy Kregor, St. Daniel's Parish and Joliet Diocesan Legislative Advocacy Network's Representative on Housing.
What makes DHAC work? Our focus is on grassroots advocacy. Our base includes churches, social service organizations, government people, and housing advocates. We are an action group with minimal structure. We meet regularly, continually educating ourselves, and have built working relationships with our legislators.
Accomplishments. Our efforts have demonstrated to elected officials that there is broad-based support for affordable housing. In-district meetings with our state and national representatives have let them know that we are a reliable source of research and information for them. Also, see DHAC Legislative Successes.
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