Write Letters To HUD Concerning Incompetence of Illinois Department of Human Rights

IDHR Fair Housing Division Partnership      Relationship with HUD The Department has had a work sharing relationship with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") since 2002 under the Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP). HUD refers cases to the Department, which IDHR dockets and investigates in accordance with the Illinois Human Rights Act. When charges are filed directly with IDHR, IDHR cross-files those cases with HUD. HUD monitors IDHR's investigations and provides legal and investigations training, ensuring that IDHR's investigations meet HUD's performance standards. Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance The Department's Fair Housing Division staff networks with private fair housing organizations, municipalities, and other organizations working on fair housing issues in the Chicago area through the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance (CAFHA). Marian Honel, Manager of the Fair Housing Division, served as CAFHA's Secretary during 2000-2002, Treasurer from 2002-2004, and was elected Vice President of CAFHA in November 2004. Illinois Housing Development Authority The Department's Fair Housing Division staff networks with other state agencies and non-profit housing advocacy organizations through participation in the State Agencies Housing Committee, which is coordinated by the Illinois Housing Development Authority's Office of Housing Coordination Services (OHCS). Illinois Housing Task Force The Department's Fair Housing Manager served on the Community and Regional Strategies and Issues Working Group of the Illinois Housing Task Force, which was created by Executive Order 2003-18 of Governor Rod Blagojevich. The Department's participation aimed to ensure that the task force considered fair housing issues while making recommendations to promote affordable housing in Illinois. The Task Force issued its final report, Building for Success: Illinois' Comprehensive Housing Plan, in January 2005. Illinois Fair Housing Network In 1998 and 1999, the Department, with the help of a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), developed web pages for a number of fair housing organizations. These pages gave the organizations access to the Internet, linking state and private organizations to major fair housing resources, including HUD. The network consolidated fair housing information and functions of government and private agencies in Illinois in a central online location, thus improving the communication and coordination among Illinois fair housing agencies. The network was disbanded when it was no longer needed, because as the technology matured, the organizations all had developed their own websites. Web pages were designed under the project for the following organizations: Access Living, Central Illinois Center for Independent Living, Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance, City of Champaign Department of Human Relations, City of Decatur Human Relations Commission, City of Peoria Equal Opportunity Office, Danville Human Relations Department, Elgin Human Relations Commission, Freedom of Residence (FOR) Freeport, IL, Housing Coalition of the Southern Suburbs (now Diversity, Inc.), Housing Choice Partners, Housing Opportunities & Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.), Interfaith Housing Center of the Northern Suburbs, JEDA/Joint Enforcement for Disability Access, Lake County Fair Housing Center, LUCHA: Latin United Community Housing Association, Oak Park Community Relations Department, Park Forest (Village of), Partners in Community Development/Faith Corp., South Suburban Housing Center (SSHC), Spanish Coalition for Housing, Springfield Community Relations Department, Streamwood (Village of), City of Alton Department of Housing and Community Development, City of Geneva, HOPE Fair Housing Center, Housing Resource Center Chicago, Interfaith Housing Development Corporation, Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing, Inc., Springfield Urban League, University Park Dept. of Community Relations. -