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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The astronomical number of vacant homes and "for
3sale" signs in Illinois communities reveal the dramatic impact
4the current economic crisis has had on homeowners throughout
5this State; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In the third quarter of 2010, Illinois posted the
7nation's fourth largest foreclosure activity total, with
847,802 properties receiving foreclosure filings, according to
9Realty Trac; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The foreclosure and housing crisis is a setback in
11years of gains Illinoisans had achieved in the frontiers of
12homeownership and wealth creation; for the first time, there
13seems to be a regressive pattern where homeowners are moving
14towards becoming homeless; these alarming statistics are the
15impetus for public intervention that will examine and provide
16direction on the residential mortgage foreclosure crisis and
17housing availability in this State; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Communities throughout this State are in need of
19additional resources to creatively respond to the detrimental
20issues caused by the enormous tide of foreclosures and the
21housing crisis; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The Comprehensive Housing Planning Act created
2the State Housing Task Force, which is charged with creating a
3comprehensive and unified policy for the allocation of
4resources for affordable housing and supportive services for
5historically underserved populations throughout the State, in
6order to accomplish the following:
7    (1) address the need to make available quality housing at a
8variety of price points in communities throughout the State;
9    (2) overcome the shortage of affordable housing, which
10threatens the viability of many communities;
11    (3) meet the need for safe, sanitary, and accessible
12affordable housing and supportive services for people with
13disabilities;
14    (4) promote a full range of quality housing choices near
15jobs, transit, and other amenities;
16    (5) meet the needs of constituencies that have been
17historically undeserved and segregated due to barriers and
18trends in the existing housing market or insufficient
19resources;
20    (6) facilitate the preservation of ownership of existing
21homes and rental housing in communities;
22    (7) create new housing opportunities and, where
23appropriate, promote mixed-income communities; and
24    (8) encourage development of State incentives for
25communities to create a mix of housing to meet the needs of
26current and future residents; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois' Annual 2011 Comprehensive
2Housing Plan published by the State Housing Task Force
3prioritizes foreclosure prevention and mitigation; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The duties of the State Housing Task Force clearly
5encompass the ability to study and make recommendations on the
6impact of foreclosures on Illinois residents and communities;
7and
 
8    WHEREAS, Recognizing the solutions to the foreclosure
9crisis are as complex as the issue, there is a pressing need
10for the State Housing Task Force to pursue strategies advancing
11foreclosure prevention, mitigation, and actions to redevelop
12impacted communities; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
15CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Task Force shall meet to organize
16and select a Foreclosure Prevention and Mitigation Working
17Group (the "Foreclosure Working Group"), of which the
18chairperson shall be the Executive Director of the Illinois
19Housing Development Authority or a designee and the
20co-chairperson will be a non-governmental Foreclosure Working
21Group member elected by the Foreclosure Working Group; and be
22it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That the Foreclosure Working Group shall be
2appointed by the Task Force and be comprised of a range of
3constituencies and stakeholders that can contribute to the
4study of the foreclosure crisis and formulate recommendations
5to address the impact of foreclosure on communities, and may
6include Task Force members and additional experts to provide a
7thorough and comprehensive foreclosure prevention, mitigation
8and impact strategy; the members shall be, with vacancies to be
9filled in the same manner as original selections, as follows:
10    (1) one member of the Senate appointed by the President of
11the Senate and one member of the Senate appointed by the
12Minority Leader of the Senate;
13    (2) one member of the House of Representatives appointed by
14the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and one member of
15the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader
16of the House of Representatives;
17    (3) representatives of the housing industry,
18not-for-profit community, and private financial institutions:
19        (A) two representatives of certified HUD housing
20    organizations that provides services to homeowners at risk
21    of losing their home to foreclosure;
22        (B) one representative from academia with a background
23    or expertise in housing trends and financial regulations;
24        (C) one representative of a non-profit legal
25    organization that has experience with the foreclosure

 

 

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1    process;
2        (D) one person with a background in affordable housing
3    issues;
4        (E) two persons with a background in housing policy and
5    research;
6        (F) one homeowner who has been impacted by the
7    foreclosure crisis in Illinois; and
8        (G) one representative of a local financial or lending
9    institution;
10    (4) representatives of governmental agencies familiar with
11the foreclosure and housing crisis:
12        (A) one representative of the Division of Banking
13    within the Department of Financial and Professional
14    Regulation;
15        (B) one representative of the Illinois Housing
16    Development Authority's Neighborhood Stabilization
17    Program;
18        (C) one representative of the Office of the Attorney
19    General that works directly with housing subprime lending
20    patterns and the foreclosure mitigation process; and
21        (D) one representative of the Department of Human
22    Services' Homeless Prevention Program; and be it further
 
23    RESOLVED, That the Foreclosure Working Group will serve for
24a period of not less than 2 years from the date of the first
25Working Group meeting; and may continue to serve for an

 

 

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1extended period at the recommendation of the Working Group
2members based the need to address foreclosure prevention,
3mitigation, and impact issues; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That the Working Group shall meet at least 4
5times a year at the call of the chairperson; members of the
6Foreclosure Working Group shall serve without compensation,
7but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred as a
8result of their duties as members of the Task Force from funds
9appropriated by the General Assembly for that purpose; and be
10it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Housing Development Authority
12shall provide staffing, administrative, and financial support
13to the Foreclosure Working Group; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That the duties of the Foreclosure Working Group
15shall include all of the following:
16    (1) monitor the emerging housing problems in Illinois and
17make recommendations concerning these issues; and
18    (2) oversee actions to prevent foreclosures and mitigate
19their impact on local communities; and
20    (3) oversee and provide insight about the rebuilding
21process caused by the housing crisis and provide a
22comprehensive and holistic approach to the rebuilding process;
23and

 

 

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1    (4) divide the work of the Foreclosure Working into 3
2primary focus areas as follows:
3        (A) Foreclosure Impact: This area shall be responsible
4    for monitoring the foreclosure activity in Illinois and
5    determining approaches to mitigate the impact on local
6    communities;
7        (B) Housing Education and Outreach: This area shall be
8    responsible for recommending outreach, counseling, and
9    education programs focused on foreclosure prevention and
10    other affordable housing programs needed to stabilize
11    communities in Illinois;
12        (C) Regulatory Reform: This area shall be responsible
13    for reviewing existing Illinois laws and regulations and
14    making appropriate revisions and recommendations for
15    legislative actions; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That the State Housing Task Force shall submit an
17addendum to reports required by the Comprehensive Housing
18Planning Act, which shall include Foreclosure Working Group
19recommendations for effective policy advisements regarding
20housing policies and funding mechanisms to address the
21foreclosure and housing crisis, and shall provide an update on
22general housing trends affecting the residents in this State.