Thread: IL: Village desperately seeks applicants for home loans

Village desperately seeks applicants for home loans

Carpentersville officials plan to canvass door to door as $600,000 pot goes begging and deadline approaches
By George Houde

Special to the Tribune

October 24, 2007

Only a few low-income residents in Carpentersville have signed up for a home improvement program, prompting worried officials to go door to door to try to drum up applicants for a share of $600,000 in grants and loans as a deadline looms.

Desperate to recruit homeowners willing to apply for the federal and state funds, officials plan to knock on doors Friday in the Morningside Circle neighborhood, which has been targeted for the program.

A similar effort last week produced limited interest in the long-neglected area, which consists of 126 town homes, many occupied by Hispanics.

The drive comes amid concerns that some Latino residents are afraid to sign up because of the controversy in the village over illegal immigration. Others blame the rules, which require grants to be repaid if a homeowner moves within five years.

Village President Bill Sarto said the controversy over undocumented immigrants has had a negative effect on the struggling program.

"The illegal immigration issue is certainly part of it," said Sarto, a staunch opponent of a proposed ordinance that some fear would crack down on immigrants. "People are afraid. There are people who are illegal and can't meet the requirements."

Much-heralded when it was implemented in January, the Morningside Revitalization Project has suffered from very low participation, said Cindy McCammack, community development director. Only one home improvement job has been started, though two more applications have been submitted, she said.

"It's an important project," McCammack said. "To get such a low response is extremely frustrating."

This month, her department sent 82 letters in English and Spanish to Morningside homeowners. She said the village is seeking 35 applicants but would be happy with fewer.

"Given the numbers we're looking at, I'd be thrilled with 10, but I think we may only get five," she said.

The rush is on because one of the grant programs will expire in January. Low-income homeowners are eligible for up to $21,500 in grants and deferred loans.

The lack of interest mystifies Lowell Tosch, director of Community Contacts, a non-profit rehab agency in Elgin that administers the program.

He said the agency has waiting lists for similar programs in other Kane County communities, including those with significant Hispanic populations such as Aurora. During the last decade, the organization has distributed $3 million in similar grants to other parts of Carpentersville, officials said.

"It's very puzzling to me," Tosch said. "Government money can be complicated to get, but there's no reason why we shouldn't have homeowners applying for these funds."

In the far southeastern corner of the village, the Morningside neighborhood is a gateway to Carpentersville along Illinois Highway 68. The village has long tried to encourage home improvements there.

To be eligible, homeowners must provide income information, a copy of their property tax bill, proof of home insurance and copies of Social Security cards for all family members.

"It wouldn't work for me," said Victor Tapia, who was working recently on the kitchen countertops in his Morningside Circle townhouse. "If you sell before five years, you have to pay back the money. People don't want those kinds of loans."

Tapia said he wants to sell his home because he is moving to Texas with his wife and four daughters to pursue an employment opportunity. He has lived in the neighborhood for six years.

Bill Johnson, a 12-year resident of Morningside Circle, agreed with Tapia but said the controversy over illegal immigration also is a reason why few people have applied for the program.

A proposed ordinance that would fine businesses employing illegal immigrants and landlords who rent to them sparked a large protest at Village Hall a year ago. The proposal has since been tabled.

"There are a lot of Hispanic people who are afraid to come forward," Johnson said.

Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune

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To be eligible, homeowners must provide income information, a copy of their property tax bill, proof of home insurance and copies of Social Security cards for all family members.

LOL! Earth to Carpentersville officials....come in please.

"There are a lot of Hispanic people who are afraid to come forward," Johnson said.

ALL citizens of Carpenterville should hold Mr. Johnson's feet to the fire and DEMAND that he qualify that statement.

Why are people so desperate to give away OTHER people's money. Going door to door....you've got to be kidding! As far as low-income illegal Hispanics, how do you know if they are LOW income or not? It's not like they all have a W-2 form history.

Why are they surprised when no one comes forward if a SSN is required??