History

History

The Housing Authority of Joliet has provided more than 65 years of housing service to the City of Joliet and Will County communities.


The Authority currently operates 989 Conventional Public Housing units, 1,189 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and is in the process of developing 188 units of mixed income, Lease To Own, housing through the State of Illinois (IHDA) Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program; and operates 42 units through the State of Illinois Rental Housing Support and Bridge Subsidy Programs. These 2,178 units provide high quality housing to elderly, disabled and families within the Will County community.



Historically the Housing Authority of Joliet was established in 1945 as outlined:

1.  On February 26, 1945, Mayor Arthur O. Janke, submitted a statement of finding of housing conditions in the city of Joliet. That statement of finding indicated that unsanitary and unsafe inhabited dwellings existed within the city and that there was a shortage of safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations available to persons who lack the amount of income to enable them, without financial assistance, to live in decent, safe and sanitary dwellings without over crowding. That statement of finding was included as part of Resolution No. 408 approved by the City of Joliet City Council on February 26, 1945.

2.  On April 9, 1945 the State of Illinois Housing Board approved the establishment of the Housing Authority of Joliet. This approval was based on the fact that a determination had been made that there was a shortage of safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations within the City of Joliet.

3.  The Honorable Mayor Janke then recommended the appointment of five (5) citizens as the first Commissioners of the Housing Authority of Joliet. Those recommendations were approved on December 10, 1945 as follows:

• John O. Holmes, 110 York Ave., Joliet, IL - Upholsterer – One (1) Year Term.
• Albert H. Jackson, 215 Hunter Ave, Joliet, IL – Editorial Department of the Chicago Times – Two (2) Year Term.
• Reverend Lee E. Coleman, 1002 Oakland Ave., Joliet, IL – Methodist Minister – Three (3) Year Term. William J. Downey, 220 N. Hickory St., Joliet, IL – Business Representative of the Plumbers and Steamfitters - Local A.F. of L. – Four (4) Year Term.
• Albert Felman, 719 Western Ave., Joliet, IL – Department Store Operator – Five (5) Year Term.

4.  On December 12, 1945 the Housing Authority of Joliet held its first Board Meeting at the American Legion Building at 11:00 a.m. for the purpose of organizing the Authority by adopting by-laws and a seal; electing officers; and taking such other action necessary to organize the Authority. Also on December 12, 1945 the Housing Authority of Joliet Board of Commissioners hired a temporary Executive Director, Harry W. Osman, at a salary of $300 per month. The Executive Director was then authorized to employ an office Secretary at a salary not to exceed $160 per month.

5.  The Authority immediately began planning for the development of low income housing within the City of Joliet. However, it was not until 1954 that the Authority’s first housing development called the VanHorne Homes was constructed at the 300 block of Water Street. These town homes included 46 units. Since that time the Authority has constructed and operated 1,099 conventional public housing units which include family, senior citizen and disabled population housing. However, in 2007 the Authority obtained U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development authorized to demolish the 106 unit Springbluff Homes thereby decreasing Conventional Public housing units to 989

To supplement the public housing stock the Authority has 1,189 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers which are funded as follows:

Housing Authority of Joliet Public Housing Developments:

Housing Authority of Mixed Income Housing Community:

Housing Authority of Joliet - State of Illinois Housing Programs:

Housing Authority of Joliet Executive Directors, December 1945 - Preseent: