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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to
congratulate the Housing Authority of 
4Joliet on the occasion of the 70th
anniversary of its founding; 
5and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, On February 26, 1945, Mayor Arthur O. Jank 
7submitted an official statement of finding of housing in the 
8City of Joliet, indicating that there was a shortage of safe 
9and sanitary dwelling accommodations available to persons of 
10lower income; that statement of finding was included as part of 
11Resolution No. 408, approved by the City of Joliet City Council 
12on February 26, 1945; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, On April 9, 1945, the State of Illinois Housing 
14Board approved the establishment of the Housing Authority of 
15Joliet; the Honorable Mayor Janke then recommended the 
16appointment of 5 citizens as the first Commissioners of the 
17Housing Authority of Joliet: John O. Holmes (Upholsterer), 
18Albert H. Jackson (Editorial Department of the Chicago Times),  
19Lee E. Coleman (Methodist Minister), William J. Downey 
20(Business Representative of the Plumbers and Steamfitters), 
21and Albert Felman (Boston Store Owner/Operator); and
 
22    WHEREAS, On December 12, 1945, the Housing Authority of 
 
 
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1Joliet held its first Board Meeting at the American Legion 
2Building for the purpose of organizing the Authority by 
3adopting by-laws and a seal, electing officers, and taking such 
4other action necessary to launch; on the same day, the Housing 
5Authority of Joliet Board of Commissioners hired a temporary 
6Executive Director, Harry W. Osman; the Housing Authority of 
7Joliet immediately began planning for the development and 
8construction of conventional low-income public housing within 
9the City of Joliet; however, it was not until 1954 that the 
10first housing development (Van Horne Homes) was constructed 
11within the 300 block of South Water Street; the development 
12consisted of 46 row homes varying in size from 1 to 4 bedroom 
13units; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Over the years, the local community thrived and 
15grew, as did its need
for additional affordable housing; it is 
16this growth that prompted the Housing
Authority of Joliet to 
17further develop additional properties and to seek out

18additional low-income housing programs to meet the 
19communities' escalating
housing needs; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, Since that time, the Housing Authority of Joliet 
21has constructed and
operated 1,099 public housing program 
22rental units which have provided housing
assistance to 
23families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Leading the Housing Authority of Joliet into the 
221st century is the Chief Executive Officer,
Michael Simelton, 
3who continues the Authority's history of promoting inclusive

4communities and quality affordable homes for all and 
5strengthening the housing
market to bolster the economy and 
6protect consumers; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Functioning for 70 years, the Housing Authority of 
8Joliet has
been at the forefront and steadfastly committed to 
9bringing exceptional housing
services and programs to the 
10people of the City of Joliet and surrounding Will
County 
11communities; therefore, be it
  
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
13NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
14congratulate the Housing Authority of Joliet on its 70th 
15Anniversary, and we wish them many more successful years; and 
16be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to the Housing Authority of Joliet as an expression 
19of our esteem and respect.