Coalition for Equitable Community Development

CECD Featured in two Hyde Park Herald Articles

1/9/2025

In 2024, the Coalition for Equitable and Community Development (CECD) was featured in two Hyde Park Herald articles.

In December, the Herald covered the CHA's homeownership program, which was outlined in a meeting co-hosted by CECD: www.hpherald.com/evening_digest/the-cha-homeownership-program-explained/article_561cd88c-b0fe-11ef-a67a-ab0f1a47e6d0.html

In May, the Herald covered a meeting that CECD co-hosted about the need for affordable senior housing: https://www.hpherald.com/evening_digest/advocates-community-members-dig-into-hyde-parks-need-for-affordable-senior-housing/article_7085eb90-1163-11ef-a0b3-33b4062afa85.html

cha choose to own program informational meeting

11/1/2024

community meeting on affordable housing

5/1/2024

Helping low-income renters during coronavirus pandemic

5/11/2022

CECD's position on how to help low income renters as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. We urge our elected officials to:

Place a moratorium on eviction filings until the crisis is over. An eviction filing against a tenant becomes a part of the public record, even if an eviction doesn't take place. This can have a chilling effect on the tenant's ability to rent in the future.
Place a moratorium on foreclosure filings against landlords that provide affordable rental units. Landlords of affordable housing, like their tenants, are especially vulnerable in this crisis. They tend to operate on thinner margins and have less ability to self-fund losses. If tenants can't pay rent, landlords can't pay their mortgage or maintain their property. In the 2008 financial crisis, many small landlords lost their buildings and were replaced by institutional investors with no ties to the community.
Establish a city rental assistance program which prioritizes lower income renters. Chicago offered a small program of rental assistance, available to 2,000 renters. Over 80,000 applied. National housing groups will be advocating for $100B in rental assistance in the next federal bill, to be distributed by local governments.

Legislative forum for candidates

2/29/2020

CECD and the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference jointly hosted a legislative forum for candidates from the 26th representative district and the 13th senatorial district.

CECD aldermanic forum featured in Hyde Park Herald

2/13/2019

Thanks to everyone who participated in our Feb. 9 forum for 4th and 5th ward aldermanic candidates about affordable housing.

The Hyde Park Herald posted an article that we encourage you to read that covers the event and the candidates' responses. You can also watch a recording of the entire event (in two parts) on YouTube:

Feb. 9: 4th & 5th ward Aldermanic candidate forum on affordable housing

2/7/2019

Saturday, February 9th,
10 a.m. to noon
Church of St. Paul and the Redeemer
4945 S. Dorchester (enter via parking lot)

The Coalition for Equitable Community Development will host a forum featuring candidates for alderman in the 4th and 5th wards.

The format will be a 3 minute opening statement by each candidate, followed by 3 questions from the CECD board regarding affordable housing (with 2 minutes to address to each question), followed by questions from the audience.

The event is free to attend. We hope to see you there!

CECD urges Metra to release study

1/17/2019

CECD board members Linda Thisted, Gary Ossewaarde, Joe Marlin, David Nekimken, and Rahsaan Morris appeared with other members of the Coalition for a Modern Metra Electric at the December 2018, Metra board meeting. The group asked Metra to release its study with a cost estimate for transforming the Modern Metra Electric into a rapid transit system. Several weeks later, Metra made the study public!

Learn more at the Coalition for a Modern Metra Electric.

cecd awarded Incubator grant

12/31/2018

CECD was awarded a University of Chicago Incubator Grant to do market research of single family homes and two flats in Woodlawn, Greater Grand Crossing, Chatham, and Avalon Park, with the goal of creating affordable owner-occupied homes in these communities.

CECD News