Welcome to the HACC

As the second largest provider of affordable housing in the State of Illinois, we are pleased to be positioned to provide access to decent, safe, and affordable housing to low and moderate income individuals, families, elderly and/or disabled within suburban Cook County. With a customer base of over 13,000 families, we are committed to providing a level of customer focused quality service that goes well beyond that of providing shelter. Imbedded in our mission we are charged with assisting our clients in their efforts to achieve self sufficiency. Empowering our clients to develop and reach goals that will improve the quality of life for them and their families is essential to long-term success.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners organized the Housing Authority of the County of Cook (HACC) in 1946. The commissioners created the Authority because Cook County was experiencing a population growth, but did not have sufficient housing to meet the need. The HACC initially focused on improving existing housing conditions, but with the 1949 U.S. Housing Act, it was given aid to construct and maintain housing for low-income families. By 1953, the HACC had programs in many Cook County suburban communities including Robbins, Chicago Heights, and Summit. By 1961, public housing senior residences were also underway. As the need for affordable housing increased, the HACC continued to build and maintain its public housing units so that a total of 2182 were built. Included in the units are low-rise and high-rise buildings, townhouses, single-family homes and duplexes. The HACC is especially proud of its senior housing that consists of high-rise developments built throughout the Cook County area including Arlington Heights, Chicago Heights, Des Plaines, Evanston, Franklin Park, Harvey, Niles, Park Forest, Robbins, Skokie, and Wheeling. By 1985, the HACC completed its construction of the public housing units and its focus shifted to the improvement, modernization and maintenance of these units and to providing opportunities and programs to our residents. These programs are designed to assist residents in achieving self-sufficiency. This commitment to our residents is reflected in such programs as the HACC Social Service Program, which includes youth group series, parenting classes, elderly-disabled exercise courses, and a community beautification program. There is also the HACC Resident Initiative Program that provides assistance in job training and searches and provides job readiness workshops and job opportunity fairs.

The HACC also operates a Rent Assistance Division called the Housing Choice Voucher Program. This program began as a result of the 1974 Housing and Community Development Act. It is designed to expand housing opportunities in the private housing market to low-income families. The HACC began with enough funds to provide rent assistance to 600 eligible applicants to lease private housing. The program has grown dramatically and has become the HACC’s largest assistance program, with over 12,000 households including families, the elderly and the disabled living in comfortable and affordable housing of their choice. The HACC realizes that one of the goals of assistance is to help move participants toward self-sufficiency. With that in mind, it is proud to offer programs that connect participants in the housing choice voucher program with other services. One such initiative is the Family Self-Sufficiency Program that assists participating families in obtaining the skills they need become economically independent from government services. Another initiative is the Home Ownership Program that assists participating families by allowing them to use their voucher subsidy for mortgage subsidy purposes.

With funding provided by the Federal Government through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the HACC plays an important public service role and is committed to providing quality customer service. The HACC values the partnerships it develops with communities, participants and landlords. The HACC realizes that there are several factors in the success of the program. Among them are the roles and responsibilities played by the government, the Authority, the landlord and the tenant families. The HACC appreciates the active participation of the approximately 8,000 landlords who open their units to us and accept rent subsidies on behalf of participants. The HACC tries to impress upon its participants the importance of their responsibility to the program.

The Housing Authority of the County of Cook employs a professional and dedicated staff and it is fortunate to have the participation of an active and knowledgeable Board of Commissioners.

The Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the County of Cook is comprised of individuals who are appointed by the Cook County Board President and confirmed by the full Board for five-year terms.

The functions of the Board are much like that of a Board of Directors in other corporations. The Board is responsible for setting agency policy and for hiring the Executive Director.

The Board of Commissioners have extensive backgrounds in the public and private sectors. The Board also consists of one resident commissioner. They are all housing advocates. They participate on the Board on a voluntary basis. The Board of Commissioners meet on the second Thursday of each month.

Our current Board members are:

Elzie Higginbottom, Chairman
Alicia R. McCray, Vice Chairman
Karen R. Chavers, Treasurer
James L. Jones, Commissioner
Joseph Martin, Commissioner
Edna Carter, Commissioner