The Chicago Department of Housing (DOH) is proud to announce its partnership with seven delegate agencies and general contractors (GCs), marking a significant step towards promoting equity and collaboration within the city's housing development landscape. The grantees were selected based on their applications submitted in response to DOH's 2023 Home Repair Program Request for Proposals (RFP) released earlier this year, and which is now closed and no longer taking applications. Of the seven selected grantees, six are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) developers and agencies.

The Home Repair Program (HRP) serves as a vital resource for residents in need of essential home repairs. The 2023 RFP presented an opportunity for those who have not previously worked with the department on the HRP and comprised two tracks: one for delegate agencies to serve as program administrators and another for GCs to provide construction management services. All grantees were required to adhere to the guidelines of the Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program (the MBE/WBE Ordinance) or Section 2-92-586 (Contracts-Firms Owned or Operated by Individuals with Disabilities) of the Municipal Code of Chicago.

DOH is delighted to collaborate with the following delegate agencies and developers:

• Black Contractors Owners and Executives Inc
• Habitat for Humanity
• Bill Welding & Fabrication LLC
• BlackRock Construction Services LLC
• Dardon Construction INC
• MiKK Construction and Developers
• TBI Contractors INC

In a significant change to the program's financial structure, the HRP is now exclusively funded through Chicago Recovery Plan (CRP) bond funds, rather than CDBG funds. This transformation enhances the HRP’s capacity, with CRP-funded contracts predicted to facilitate repairs for approximately 175 homes.

Moreover, this funding shift accelerates procurement timelines and streamlines contractor reimbursements, expediting the positive impact on communities. The outcome of this change has already been seen in the 1,150% increase in participation in the RFP: DOH received 25 applications this year, whereas it previously received two for the CDBG-funded HRP RFP.

The utilization of CRP funds also empowers DOH with greater contracting flexibility, enabling the department to engage directly with smaller contractors that might not have had the capacity to participate otherwise.

"We are thrilled to embark on this journey of collaboration and community wealth building with our grantees,” said Jim R. Horan, Acting Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Housing. "By actively engaging with BIPOC developers and embracing the transformative potential of CRP funds, we are not only addressing critical home repair needs, but also contributing to the long-term equitable development of our city."

The Chicago Department of Housing remains steadfast in its mission to create thriving communities, where every resident has access to safe and sustainable housing. This partnership with BIPOC developers and the implementation of CRP bond funds showcase the department's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and community wealth building.

***