Resident Service Programs
The Resident Services Department provides a variety of recreational, educational, vocational, social, cultural, and healthcare activities for Housing Authority residents to participate in with their families. Through mainly grant funded programs, eligible residents can participate in educational development, employment training, job placement and retention programs; youth after school programs; on-site tutoring and computer training classes; neighborhood revitalization activities; leadership development training activities; Resident Council and City of Joliet community sponsored events and activities; crime reduction programs; and assistance in overcoming employment barriers, i.e. childcare, transportation assistance, and healthcare.
To obtain contact information regarding Resident Services Department staff, click on the link listed below.
Resident Services Staff Directory
Resident Council Members
To obtain additional information regarding a specific service or program offered by the Housing Authority of Joliet, click on one of the links listed below.
Resident Bus Transportation Service
Summer Camp Program
Rising Stars After School Program
Family Self-Sufficiency Program
Coming Soon
Resident Services Staff Directory
Administrative Office
6 South Broadway Street
Joliet, Illinois 60436
Phone: (815) 727-0611
Relay Service: (800) 545-1833, extension 887
Mr. Mark Jakielski, Chief Operating Officer - Conventional Housing Programs
Phone: (815) 727-0611, extension 125
Fax: (815) 723-9820
Email: mjakielski@hajoliet.org
Ms. Donna Kovachik, Secretary
Phone: (815) 727-0611, extension 131
Fax: (815) 723-9820
Email: dkovachik@hajoliet.org
Mr. Dale Evans, FSS Coordinator / Social Services Coordinator
6 South Broadway Street
Joliet Illinois 60436
Phone: (815) 727-0611, extension 158
Fax: (815) 723-9820
Email: devans@hajoliet.org
Des Plaines Gardens Homes
Des Plaines Gardens Homes Community Center
220 South Des Plaines Street
Joliet, Illinois 60436
Phone: (815) 727-0634
Fairview Homes
Fairview Homes Community Center
1426 Englewood Street
Joliet, Illinois 60432
Phone: (815) 727-0642
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Kennedy Terrace Resident Council 200 Oneida, Joliet, IL 60435 |
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| President | Gloria Lewis | Apt. # 406 | (815) 729-3950 |
| Vice President | Ester Hill | Apt. # 616 | (815) 474-7107 |
| Secretary | Edith Gathings | Apt. # 908 | (815) 260-4129 |
| Treasure | Linda Lauder | Apt. # 400 | (815) 730-1421 |
| Liaison | Ora Mitchell | Apt. # 518 | (815) 744-2048 |
| Country Store | Resident Council | (815) 744-7129 | |
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Stevenson Gardens Resident Council 102 Stryker Avenue, Joliet, IL 60436 |
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| President | Helen Brown | Apt # 422 | |
| Vice President | Deborah Kyle | Apt # 622 | |
| Secretary | Ethel Evans | Apt # 318 | (815) 407-7099 |
| Treasurer | Karen Williams | Apt # 419 | (815) 530-0226 |
| Liaison | Cassandra Grimes | Apt # 711 | |
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John C. Murphy Resident Council 311 N. Ottawa, Joliet, IL 60432 |
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| President | Willie Robinson | Apt # 603 | |
| Vice President | Tunisha Fuller | Apt # 712 | (815) 729-3950 |
| Secretary | VACANT | ||
| Treasurer | Jamella Gresham | Apt # 1205 | (815) 666-5286 |
| At Large | Jackie White | Apt # 612 | |
| Country Store | Resident Council | (815) 722-4183 | |
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John O. Holmes Resident Council Joliet, IL 60435 |
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| President | VACANT | ||
| Vice President | Charita Hoyle | 419 N. Bluff, Apt # 34 | (323) 428-6535 |
| Secretary | VACANT | ||
| Treasurer | Marilyn Burr | 419 N. Bluff, Apt # 37 | (815) 727-1318 |
| 401 Liaison | VACANT | ||
| 419 Liaison | VACANT | ||
| Row House Liaison | |||
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Des Plaines Gardens Resident Council Joliet, IL 60436 |
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| President | Veda Cummins | 300 Water St. | (815) 726-4603 |
| Vice President | Cynthia Pitchford | 300 Water St. | (815) 727-0636 |
| Secretary | VACANT | ||
| Treasurer | VACANT | ||
| Liaison | VACANT | ||
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Fairview Homes Resident Council Joliet, IL 60432 |
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| President | Debra Dillard | 1417 Fairmount | (815) 726-8362 |
| Vice President | VACANT | ||
| Secretary | Crystal Abbott | 1414 Fairmount | |
| Treasurer | VACANT | ||
| Liaison | VACANT | ||
| At Large | VACANT | ||
Resident Bus Transportation Service
The Housing Authority of Joliet provides residents of the highrise communities with courtesy transportation services to and from various local businesses. Transportation services follow a pre-scheduled daily itinerary and are generally available five (5) days per week from 9:00am through 1:00pm.
The Housing Authority bus is able to transport a limited number of passengers, therefore daily bus service in provided on a first come first served basis. The bus has the capacity to transport twenty (20) individuals and two (2) individuals with disabilities who may require an accommodation for a personal wheelchair. With exception to a certified assistive animal that has been specially trained to act as a mobility tool to aid blind or visually impaired individuals, all other animals are prohibited from riding the bus.
Weekly trips are scheduled to Westfield Louis Joliet Mall, Barnes and Noble, Bed Bath and Beyond, Best Buy, Dollar Tree, Fashion Bug, Goodwill Store, K-Mart, Office Max, Target, Aldi’s, Food 4 Less, Jewel/Osco, Meijer’s, Super Wal-mart, Marycrest Shopping Center, TJ Maxx, Hobby Lobby and Michaels Craft Store, Basinger’s and Walgreens Drug Stores, Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center, Silver Cross Hospital, University of Saint Francis Health and Wellness Center, Baker’s Square, Golden Corral, IHOP, and Old Country Buffet.
To obtain a copy of the Resident Bus Transportation Schedule, residents should contact their on-site Property Manager or click here for a Resident Bus Transportation Schedule
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Each summer the Housing Authority of Joliet sponsors supervised recreational and educational activities for youth who reside within the public housing developments of Des Plaines Gardens Homes, Poole Garden Homes and Fairview Homes. In prior years, youth have participated in sporting activities such as baseball, soccer, golf, and basketball; recreational activities such as dance, double-dutch contests, arts and crafts, tye-dyes, fishing, swimming, and ceramics; and they have gone on field trips to see Chicago CUBS, White Sox baseball and BULLS games, and I-Max Theater presentations, and they have visited Six Flag’s Great America Theme Park, Indiana Beach Resort, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum of Natural History, Museum of Science and Industry, and Navy Pier.
Registration for the Summer Camp Program is on a first come first served basis. As with most programs, registration is on a first come first served basis and slots tend to fill very quickly! To enroll an age eligible youth into the Summer Camp Program, please schedule an appointment with the on-site Community Service Aide.
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Rising Stars After School Program
The Housing Authority of Joliet offers an after school program targeted to youth who are between 6 and 17 years of age. The program exposes youth to a wide-variety of educational, social, recreational, cultural and vocational opportunities designed to increase academic performance; increase grade/high school advancement and completion rates; decrease school expulsions and suspensions; and reduce youth involvement in juvenile crime, teen pregnancy, and drug and alcohol use/abuse.
The program has been in operation since 1998 and has provided services to well over 3,000 youth participants. The Rising Stars After School Program has provided youth with access to programs such as:
Academic Assistance Programs
- On-site tutoring and homework assistance
- Internet based educational skill building courses
- Academic games and activities
- Book-of-the-Month Clubs
Sport and Recreational Programs
- Wrestling, basketball, softball and karate team formation and competitions
- Arts and Crafts, i.e. tye-dye events, ceramics, latch-hook rug creation, scrapbooking, punch art and rubber stamping classes
- Roller and ice skating, golf and bowling outings
- Field trips to Chicagoland area attractions
- Summer Camps
- Holiday parties
- Teen Overnight Lock-In Events
Life Skills and Employment Training Skills Programs
- Home Depot University Youth Classes
- Faux finishing and stenciling classes
- Career exploration activities
- Project Discovery events,
- Team building exercises, conflict resolution, anger and stress management, drug and
- alcohol substance abuse and prevention courses, and self-esteem building seminars
- Youth Leadership Programs
- Lap-sit demonstration programs
Community Service Projects
- Community event participation i.e. City of Joliet’s Light Up the Holidays Christmas Parade, Make-A–Wish Foundation’s Easter Parade, and the Black and Latin-Pride Parades
- Community Gardening projects
- Salvation Army bell ringing
- Food/gift distribution to elderly and disabled populations
Mentoring and Peer Support Programs
- Boy Scouts of America
- Trailways Girl Scout Council
- The Uplink Program
- Teen Advisory Councils
- Book-of-the-Month Clubs
Parental Involvement
Parental involvement within various program activities is mandatory in order for youth to participate in the program.
Family Night Out Events
Registration for the After School Program occurs throughout the calendar year, however it is strongly encouraged that parents enroll their children prior to summer break (May/June) or prior to the start of the school year (August/September). As with most youth programs, registration is on a first come first served basis and slots tend to fill very quickly! To enroll an age eligible youth into the Teen REACH Program, please schedule an appointment with the on-site Community Service Aide. Click here to view the Rising Stars After School Program Scrapbook.
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Family Self-Sufficiency Program
Coming Soon
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