A Participating Jurisdiction (PJ) is a state or local government that has been awarded HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds.  The funds are designated to communities that require assistance in the development and improvement of low-income housing.  Allocations are determined using a formula defined by the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) department that considers the relative inadequacy of the jurisdiction’s housing supply, its incidence of poverty, its fiscal distress, and other factors.  All state governments can choose to receive either 3 million dollars or the amount specified by the formula, whichever is determined to be larger.  Local governments receive funds only if they qualify for at least 500,000 dollars using the specified formula.  Participating Jurisdictions in Illinois include:

1. City of Chicago
2. Cook County
3. Decatur
4. DuPage County
5. East St. Louis
6. Evanston
7. IHDA
8. Joliet
9. Lake County
10. Madison County
11. McHenry County
12. Peoria
13. Rockford
14. Springfield
15. St. Clair County
16. Urbana
17. Will County

In order to apply to become a Participating Jurisdiction, the prospective PJ must announce its intention to join the HOME program and must submit a current Consolidated Plan, which includes information concerning how possible funds will be used, to the Housing and Urban Development department.  The prospective PJ will then be notified if it has qualified for funds as determined by the HUD-specified formula.

Upon receiving funds, PJs must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Every dollar used must be matched with 25 cents of nonfederal sources, which can include but is not limited to:
1. Donated materials and labor
2. Donated property
3. Proceeds from bond financing
4. Other resources
2. 15 percent of funds must be reserved for projects owned, developed, or sponsored by Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs)
3. Housing units must be guaranteed to remain affordable in the long-term (i.e. at least 20 years for new rental housing and 5-15 years for homeownership housing)
4. All funds must be committed within two years of receiving allocation and spent within five years.

For more information concerning Participating Jurisdictions consult the HOME program, part of the Housing and Urban Development department: http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordablehousing/programs/home/

Housing Action provides technical assistance to CHDOs or potential CHDOs who are receiving or will receive funds from PJs throughout Illinois. If a PJ has a CHDO they would like to receive technical assistance, please contact katie@housingactionil.org.