Will County Gazette

The Village of Park Forest successfully exhausted over $400,000 in grant funds, assisting income-qualified residents with essential home repairs. These repairs included roof replacements and comprehensive home rehabs, thanks to the funds received through the Illinois Housing Development Authority's Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP).

Assistant Director of Economic Development and Planning Andrew Brown explained that the Village began accepting applications for assistance in the spring of 2023, following their grant approval in 2022. Over 80 households initially expressed interest, but only 23 were ultimately selected based on certain criteria such as income below 150% of the area median and financial hardship due to the pandemic.

"We were able to replace 20 roofs, and the average cost for these replacements was roughly $18,000," Brown stated. He further detailed that some participants required full home rehabs, costing over $41,000 each.

The Village managed to secure additional funding from the state, which not only facilitated the repairs but also allowed for hiring more staff. This additional personnel helped guide applicants through a lengthy process, which Brown described as involving a "tremendous amount" of effort. Each completed project required at least 28 signatures and four notarized documents, culminating in over 644 signatures and nearly 100 notary stamps for all projects.

Brown credited the Village staff's dedication: "It was a mountain of paperwork, but we climbed willingly to help our neighbors."

Beyond individual household benefits, Brown noted that the program positively impacted the broader community by contributing to stable property values, enhancing street appeal, and fostering a stronger sense of community pride.

"Most importantly, it means our neighbors, people we know and care about, can continue living safely and with dignity in the homes they love," Brown concluded.

Currently, over 20 residents remain on a waiting list for potential future funding. Brown emphasized the uncertainty of further funding but assured that the Village would inform the public if circumstances change.