CHICAGO — People living in forms of shared ownership housing like condos, co-ops and townhomes — and those interested in starting their own associations — can learn about the resources available to them at a virtual teach-in this weekend.
The second Shared Ownership Housing Summit takes place online 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.
The workshops will discuss how to obtain coronavirus recovery funds, appeal property taxes, review state laws around shared-ownership housing, make buildings more energy efficient and the history of cooperative economics, among other topics.
Registration fees are pay-what-you can, with a suggested donation of $50. To register, click here.
There will be a special workshop on conflict resolution noon-2 p.m. Saturday, which requires a separate registration. To register, click here.
The summit is organized by the Center for Shared Ownership, which provides assistance to co-ops, condos and townhomes while advocating for policies that support them.
The center’s work fills the gap left behind by the Chicago Mutual Housing Network’s closure about a decade ago, Rachel Johnston said. She’s a senior staffer for the Chicago Rehab Network, which formed the center alongside the Chicago Community Loan Fund.
“There really hasn’t been a place to look at the policy needs of this niche of affordable housing,” Johnston said. “Even though we do have over 10,000 cooperative units, Chicago and Illinois don’t really have programs that encourage not-for-profits or community groups to start co-ops. We feel that this housing option can really provide some stability” for the housing market.
Their policy interests include limiting “the flight of population out of the South Side,” supporting older people financially so they can age in place, helping condos refinance their properties and helping residents overcome the effects of redlining on their communities.
This weekend’s summit, which is open to the public, follows one in the spring for South Shore, East Garfield Park and West Pullman residents.
The center, which “really [doesn’t] have a geographic boundary,” wants to hold monthly workshops that are open to all, Johnston said.
As “more associations that reach out for help, we can start scheduling trainings where there are common concerns,” she said.
Sixty associations registered for the summit as of Tuesday, Johnston said.
Subscribe to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Already subscribe? Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.
Listen to “It’s All Good: A Block Club Chicago Podcast” here: