[remote or in person] Board of Commissioners

Chicago Housing Authority

Development

Housing

Tuesday, March 19, 2024
8:30 a.m. — 1:30 p.m. CDT

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60 E Van Buren St Chicago, IL 60605 (Directions)

CHA Corporate Offices, 7th Floor, Board Chambers

This is an assignment to cover a series of back-to-back meetings of the Chicago Housing Authority board.

You have the option of attending this meeting remotely or in person.

If you attend in person, you may need to reserve a spot in advance more details here. Please indicate that you attended in person and an hour will be added to your total assignment pay.

If you document the meeting remotely, it will be live-streamed on the Chicago Housing Authority’s Youtube channel at this link: https://www.youtube.com/@ChiHousingAuthority/streams

Meeting schedule (additional details here) & here

8:30 a.m.: Board Meeting Public Hearing
9:00 a.m.: Finance & Audit Committee (Closed Session) / Finance & Audit Committee (Business Session and Public Hearing)
9:20 a.m.: Real Estate Operations Development Committee (Business Session and Public Hearing)
9:30 a.m.: Tenant Services Committee (Business Session and Public Hearing)
9:40 a.m.: Board Meeting Business Session (Closed Session)

You’re encouraged to stick around through closed session as you are able because public bodies are technically supposed to return to open session in order to officially end the meeting and/or officially vote on any decisions, and this time will be added to your total assignment hours. The meeting duration varies but usually wraps up between noon and 1 p.m.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Live reporting by Jennifer Guerrero

Commissioners heard about a weather-related electricity outage at Las Americas Apartments, a senior public housing complex in Pilsen.

Jennifer Guerrero @Jennife92877737

Hi! I’ll be live tweeting for
Chicago Housing Authority, Board of Commissioners #CHIdocumenters @CHIdocumenters, starting @ 8:30am

09:30 AM Mar 19, 2024 CDT

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Meeting began at 8:45am.

Jennifer Guerrero @Jennife92877737 3/26

Centering thoughts are given by Commissioner Dr. Harris. She begins by reading a poem, “a powerful woman”, in honor of national women’s month. She specifically honors the women in the CHA.

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Next are a few words from the CHA’s CEO. She said that the agency currently serves 65,000 households. It has delivered more than a 1000 homes, including homes for CHA’s seniors. She notes that the approval of the federal budget was critical for the agency given that most of its..

Jennifer Guerrero @Jennife92877737 5/26

funds come from the fed govt. Regardless of the budget threats, the CHA continued working on their projects. They are planning more then 1000 mixed income projects, 760 of which will be available by this year. Some of those pictured here:

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Here are other examples of some of the programming CHA has been working on. One of their graduates from their program is now a CHA employee.

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There have been more than 3000 households enrolled in CHA’s free internet program.

Jennifer Guerrero @Jennife92877737 8/26

When inclement weather affected seniors at Las Americas, CHA moved them to hotels and groceries in collaboration with other organizations.

Jennifer Guerrero @Jennife92877737 9/26

There is a video presentation explaining what happened at Las Americas. The lack of electricity was caused by a Comed emergency. There are testimonies of people who heard the wires pop. Electric generators were lost, and the building fell into a deep freeze.

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There were 185 families that needed to be relocated as a result. Clothes, toiletries, and food were provided to them by the CHA.

Jennifer Guerrero @Jennife92877737 11/26

Information about upcoming deadlines here:

Jennifer Guerrero @Jennife92877737 12/26

Meeting has moved onto the public comment portion.

Jennifer Guerrero @Jennife92877737 13/26

The first commenter speaks about her concern for blind seniors, specifically fire safety. The units blind residents are in are mostly on the third floor or above. She’s worried that they might fall with no one to help them. She also wants to speak about lack of cycle painting.

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She said the seniors need flowers and beauty scenery. All her comments were in regards to buildings on the south side.

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A representative of Touch and Go says she is deeply invested in revitalizing the community. She says that rumors have spread about Touch and Go’s capacity. She said that the org hasn’t properly been given the opportunity to demonstrate themselves.

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She also said that they have not had proper communication with CHA. The CEO directs her to speak with the Chief Operating Officer.

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Another contractor speaks about the Make Ready program. He says that his company has taken the initiative to train young men in the craft. He says that he wants to bring in more people and additional support for the program. He has also been directed to speak w/ the COO.

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A resident 3939 w lake park PL building says that the amenities of that building, and the following building, 3933 w lake park, in poor condition, specifically the laundry room.

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The board member responds by highlighting that the vendor that was supposed to handle laundry services dropped out. They are currently in the works of finding a new one, w/ lake park place being a priority.

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A representative of SEIU says wages haven’t gone up for workers to match up increased cost of living. She says that although increased pension contribution will be beneficial, many people will be affected since they will have to balance making the contribution and cost of living

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Another commenter says she wants clarification on the payment system by the CHA for contractors. She asked the board if it reasonable for her not to be paid yet for a project that was completed in January and had paperwork submitted in February.

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The CEO also directs this contractor to speak to the COO.

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A Commissioner speaks out about the fact that there’s probably many people who have the same questions as the contractor. The COO explains:

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The base contract looks at the tier that you’re in. This just represents the initial amount. The $250k (tier 2) contractors doesn’t guarantee that exact amount will be paid. This amount is not a cap, this is just the initial award. The CHA goes through an additional process..

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To assess the budget and the contracts.

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Thread continued here:

https://twitter.com/jennife92877737/status/1770111423063953869

View thread

Attachments

Meeting agendas

By India Daniels 3/19/2024

Agency Information

Chicago Housing Authority

See Documenters reporting

The CHA Board of Commissioners is the governing body that determines policies and resolutions of CHA. The Board approves decisions that chart the direction of current and future programs and authorizes the actions of the Chief Executive Officer and his or her designees. The 10-member Board of Commissioners is confirmed by the Chicago City Council for staggered five-year terms. All commissioners must be residents of Chicago, and at least three commissioners must be CHA residents. Employees of CHA are not authorized to serve as commissioners.

Remote meetings are live-streamed on the Chicago Housing Authority’s Youtube channel. The video may not appear until at or a few minutes after the scheduled start time. If you do not see if right away, wait a few moments and try refreshing your Internet tab.