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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Chris Ragona, Director of Community Services, Community Services Department
DATE: January 28, 2026
SUBJECT:
A Resolution Approving Project Recommendations Funded from Year Two of the Aurora Affordable Housing Solutions Fund in the Amount of $550,000.
PURPOSE:
To approve the 2026 Aurora Affordable Housing Funds (AHS) by resolution. This approval is necessary in order to award and process 2026 awards.
BACKGROUND:
The City is entering the second year of its AHS grant program, which supports activities dedicated to preserving and creating local affordable housing. Established from the nine key strategies identified in the City’s 2024 Affordable Housing Strategy, the grant program's full scope is detailed in Exhibit A. For this second year, the City is prioritizing the AHS’ following initiatives:
-Utilize Public Land and Under-Utilized Property to Expand Affordable Housing Opportunities.
-Leverage Multiple Funding Sources, Partners, and Solutions for Affordable Housing Activities.
-Educate and Inform Stakeholders About Local Programs, Services, Data Trends, and the Importance of Affordable Housing in Aurora.
Partner solicitation opened on September 9, 2025, and closed on October 10, 2025. For 2026, the total funding available is $600,000. City staff outreach efforts included notifications to prospective applicants. The following table outlines the City's outreach efforts:
|
Outreach Opportunity |
Date |
|
Pre-Application Announcement Email - Notice #1 |
8-26-2025 |
|
Beacon Newspaper Advertisement |
8-17-2025 |
|
Community Resource Team Email |
8-29-2025 |
|
Community Resource Team Social Media Post |
8-29-2025 |
|
Pre-Application Announcement Email - Notice #2 |
8-29-2025 |
|
Final Reminder Regarding Application Due Date |
10-06-2025 |
|
Application Due Date |
10-10-2025 |
Under each email notification, an estimated 560 representatives from non-profit agencies, elected officials, advisory boards, interested businesses, and residents of the City were provided with information regarding the City's six specialized grant opportunities: the City’s Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Grant, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME, Home Investment Partnerships - American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP), Quality
of Life, and Aurora Affordable Housing Solutions Grant (AHS). The City also published an advertisement and press release in The Beacon News. The AHS Fund and other specialized grant opportunities were also advertised utilizing the City's social media accounts.
The AHS funding opportunity closed on October 10, 2025, with six (6) applicants requesting a total of $1,225,405.
Community Services Department, Community Development Division staff reviewed and scored each application to focus on the following criteria:
-Meets one of the nine affordable housing recommendations established in the City’s affordable housing strategy.
-Experience administering housing related programs.
-Completeness and quality of the application.
-Budget including sources and uses.
-Past performance.
-Ability to operate or carry on project with a reduced amount of funds.
-Performance metrics.
-Duplication of services.
-Pre-existence of services.
-Ability to serve Aurora residents.
City staff also completed good standing checks with the City’s Division of Revenue and Collections, State of Illinois, Internal Revenue Service, and federal debarment registry to confirm each applicant’s funding eligibility. Pre-application meetings were completed, and additional research was conducted to confirm the accuracy of the applicants’ described service areas and outcomes. After a review of each application, City staff organized projects by the requested amount, funding availability, and funding proposal quality.
For 2026, three of the six applications are recommended for AHS funding. To better align with AHS program goals, three additional applications were transferred to AHS from the HOME-ARP and Quality of Life programs. Detailed application summaries and funding recommendations are attached as Exhibit B and briefly summarized below:
Prairie State Legal Services - $100,000 - Aurora eviction and foreclosure prevention program.
DuPage Federation - $30,000 - Bridging The Gap - Education and awareness and affordable housing program.
The Neighbor Project - $320,000 - Infill Program - Construction of single family housing on vacant lots for first time homebuyers.
Hope Fair Housing - $55,000 - Removing Barrier Building Access - Advancing disability rights in housing training and advocacy.
Fellowship Housing - $20,000 - Transitional housing, financial literacy training, and wrap around services for single mothers and children.
Stable-Able Housing - $25,000 - Housing support for veterans. The total investment in AHS funding is approximately $550,000..
DISCUSSION:
Projects may require additional underwriting to determine eligibility, reporting, and compliance documents similar to the requirements of grants funded by Community Development Block Grant.
Account numbers where funds have been requested for 2026 budget: AHS: 215-1330-463.50-50: $550,000.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Year Two of AHS will support agencies that provide services to residents to educate, preserve, and expand affordable housing.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends adoption of this Resolution authorizing Project Recommendations for Year two of the AHS in the Amount of $550,000.
For reference, please see attached:
EXHIBIT B - AHS FUNDING RECOMMENDATION
EXHIBIT C - AHS APPLICANT SUMMARY
cc: Public Health, Safety and Transportation Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution Approving Project Recommendations Funded from Year Two of the Aurora Affordable Housing Fund in the Amount of $550,000.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora's Affordable Housing Fund will preserve and expand affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, the Aurora Affordable Housing Fund will help serve hundreds of people; and
WHEREAS, the financial support of local partners and residents is critical to continue to provide a wide range of affordable housing programs and services; and
WHEREAS, the Block Grant Working Committee has reviewed the 2026 Aurora Affordable Housing Fund projects and made recommendations for 2026 funding; and
WHEREAS, funds are requested in the 2026 budget in the following accounts: AHS: 215-1330-463.50-50: $550,000; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: subject to the approval of this item in the 2026 budget, the 2026 Aurora Affordable Housing Solutions Fund projects includes funding for six activities in the amount of $550,000 and incorporated as part of the 2026 City of Aurora Annual Budget and authorizes the City's Mayor, Chief Community Services Officer or their designees to execute any contracts as well as any other documents associated with these approvals, including but not limited to program administration requirements.