Mayor and City Staff Attend Country Brook Cookout
On Wednesday, July 14 the Neighborhood Services Department hosted its first block party of the summer for the residents of Country Brook Apartments. NSD partnered with the Country Brook Cares neighborhood group to organize the block party with neighborhood residents. The goal of the event was to promote community solidarity and unity in response to […]
Home Consortium to Receive Special Funding Allocation
On May 3, the Urbana Home Consortium, which includes the City of Champaign, the City of Urbana and Champaign County, received notification of a special allocation of funding through HUD’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program-American Rescue Plan (HOME ARP). This one-time funding of $2.9 million will create a significant opportunity to meet the housing and service […]
Neighborhood Leaders Hosts Monthly Virtual Meeting
On May 5, Neighborhood Services hosted another virtual neighborhood leaders meeting. Deputy Police Chief Matt Henson provided an update on the Police response to gun incidents, and Jamie Vermillion from Public Works highlighted the City’s Adopt A Drain program. Twenty neighbors representing 15 registered neighborhood groups were in attendance. NSD staff continue to encourage group […]
CU at Home Pausing Operations
CU at Home recently announced that they were pausing their operations, and on May 12 temporarily closed their shelter for our community’s residents without an address that are not currently enrolled in the C-19 Shelter to Housing Voucher Program. The pause in services is due to a significant staffing shortage. Both the building and the […]
2613 West Kirby Case Update
Due to outstanding code violations including boarded doors and windows, the property at 2613 W Kirby Ave. became subject to the requirements of the vacant nuisance residential buildings ordinance. Failure of the property owner to comply with the ordinance requirements resulted in the case being forwarded to the City Legal Department for litigation. Now-retired Property […]
North Prospect Volunteer Cleanup Event
On May 13, a group of volunteers organized by Michael Chrasta of the non-profit organization The Vine and the Fig Tree performed a litter clean up in the North Prospect area. Volunteers from Youth Build and Meijer participated in the cleanup through morning and afternoon shifts. Twenty-nine 30-gallon bags of litter were removed from the […]
COVID Relief Funding – Partner Profile and Update CU TRI
The City funded CU Trauma and Resiliency Initiative (CU TRI) with $60,000 in COVID Relief funds to initiate trauma response and crime prevention programs. Thus far CU TRI has recruited a total of 12 individuals who have agreed to attend the training and play an active role in their “Healing Neighborhoods” project. They identified 2 […]
Virtual Landlord Forum
On May 4, 2021, Neighborhood Services partnered with Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) and Habitat for Humanity to host a virtual forum for area landlords. Presenters were CCRPC’s Community Services Director Lisa Benson, And Habitat for Humanity’s Family Services Manager Jim Mueller. Sixty-two landlords joined the meeting to learn about new rental assistance funds […]
Virtual Home Maintenance 101 Workshop
On April 22, 2021, Neighborhood Services collaborated with Habitat for Humanity to conduct a virtual Home Maintenance 101 workshop. Rehab Technician Joe Lewis presented maintenance tips for homeowners: including visual checks inside and outside the home; replacement of furnace filters; smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; and knowing the locations of main water and gas shut […]
IHDA Homeownership Programs
The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) gave a presentation to City staff and partners at the monthly meeting of the Community Reinvestment Group. Javier Gamucio, IHDA’s Director of Homeownership, presented information on IHDA’s housing downpayment assistance programs. IHDA currently offers five mortgage products that offer down payment, closing cost assistance and 30-year fixed rate mortgages […]