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Update on Rental Housing Support Program Yesterday, Roger Schmith and I, along with the other members of the Community Affairs Dept. of Catholic Conference of Illinois, (and I just learned that Kathy Kregor from our Legislative Advocacy Committee was in Springfield as well,) had opportunity to advocate at the capitol for passage of Rental Housing Support Bill S.B. 520. Below is an update.
The Rental Housing Support Program has a new bill number - HB 626
(Amendment The change was made to clarify some of the language around
the fee increase on real estate document filings and the portion of
money that would go to counties. The bill just passed out
of a Senate committee. The next step is for it to be heard
on the Senate floor.
The
Statewide Housing Action Coalition has issued the following alert. Wednesday and Thursday are our last two days to pass the Rental Housing Support Program. The Rental Housing Support Program would provide rental subsidies to more than 5,500 extremely low-income households across the state--70% of the households assisted would be located outside of Chicago. The program will be funded by an $11 fee on the recordation of real estate documents--$9 of which goes to the program and $2 of which goes to the counties. Several developments have happened this week that require housing advocates to redouble our efforts to pass the bill. Most importantly, technical amendments were made to the bill on Tuesday to better define how the $2 that goes to the counties in which the fee is collected are allocated between county governments and county recorders/clerks. These amendments were adopted by the Senate Executive Committee through a "shell bill," House Bill 626 by an 8 to 5 vote The bill will should be voted by the full Senate by mid-day Wednesday. If the bill passes, because of the amendments the bill will have to go back to the House for another vote on Thursday. ACTION TO TAKE As soon as possible on Wednesday, call your State Senator in Springfield and ask them to vote YES on HB 626--the Rental Housing Support Program (formerly SB 520). We cannot take any vote for granted. We especially need calls to downstate Democrats and moderate Republicans, including the following Senators: Bomke Brady Demuzio Dillard Forby Haine Jacobs Radogno Rauschenberger Righter Risinger Shadid Dave Sullivan John Sullivan Walsh Welch Winkel More information on the bill is available at www.statewidehousing.org in the News and Alerts section. Tom Garlitz
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