Evanston Receives $1.5M Grant to Help Rebuild Communities

The Evanston Revitalization Partnership received a $1.5 million grant Thursday as part of Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s announcement of $70 million to assist housing efforts across the state  that have been devastated by the national foreclosure crisis, according to a press release.

The grant will be used to address foreclosed and vacant properties in west Evanston neighborhoods that have been impacted by foreclosures and are not targeted by the city’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 funds.

Community Partners for Affordable Housing will work with its partners to acquire and rehabilitate at least 10 units that will be made available to low- and moderate-income residents.

“With this grant from the AG’s Office we will be able to target   properties in the 2nd Ward and elsewhere that are unoccupied and have major property standard issues," Evanston Alderman Peter Braithwaite (2nd Ward) said in a statement. "We are excited to partner with community partners like Community Partners for Affordable Housing to acquire these properties and transform them into affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families.”

CPAH, a non-profit that works in Chicago’s North Shore suburbs, provides quality affordable housing as well as ongoing support and education to ensure resident success.  This grant is “a win-win-win," CPAH's Executive Director Rob Anthony said in a statement. "These homes which have been a drain on the community will improve the block, assist local families who struggle to afford housing and improve the local housing stock."