Workforce Housing and Community Development Committee Meeting - July 14, 2026
Workforce Housing and Community Development Committee Meeting - July 14, 2026
The Workforce Housing and Community Development Committee of Cook County met on July 14, 2026, at 9:00 AM (recessed from March 11). Chair Gainer was excused, but a quorum was present. The committee approved several items related to housing investments, human resources reports, and grant programs.
Public Comments & Testimony
- George Blakemore spoke about the need for metrics to measure success in the Black community, criticizing a lack of Black business ownership and consumerism, and urging the committee to focus on economic development beyond just representation.
- Sandy Norman (Apostle Dr. Sandy A. Norman, CEO of a CVI organization) expressed frustration with the lack of accountability in funding for violence prevention. She noted that $15 million and $5 million in funding repeatedly go to the same organizations, and called for checks and balances. She also mentioned that she has warned the city about violence but was told not to be upset with the city, but with churches. She urged fairness and committed to continue advocating for change.
Discussion Items
- Item 26-0942: Approval of committee minutes from February 3, 2026. Approved unanimously.
- Item 26-0579: Bureau of Human Resources Hiring Timeline Report for Q4 FY2025. Received and filed unanimously.
- Item 26-1029: Bureau of Human Resources Hiring Timeline Report for Q1 FY2026. Received and filed unanimously.
- Item 26-1350: Stony Creek Apartments – Request from Cook County Department of Planning and Development for $3.3 million in HOME Investment Partnerships ARPA funds to acquire land and construct a three-story, 25-unit permanent supportive housing property for individuals with physical and mental difficulties at 12147 South Cicero, Alsip. Approved unanimously without discussion.
- Item 26-1351: Park Forest former parish campus – Request for $1.95 million in HOME ARPA funds for acquisition, moderate rehabilitation, and stabilization of a 6.4-acre former parish campus (vacated school, church, rectory) in Park Forest, to be converted into permanent supportive housing. Target population: DCFS wards aging out of foster care, primarily young women. Commissioner Naya asked about the target population; Deputy Director Carl Braille confirmed it is for DCFS wards. Commissioner McCaskill asked whether young women going to college would have access during breaks; Braille explained that DCFS services extend beyond age 21 for those in college, and this location would serve as a permanent domicile. Commissioners Naya, McCaskill, and others added as co-sponsors. Approved unanimously.
- Proposed Grant Award for 2026 Program Year: Approval of funding sources and categories for CDBG ($9,707,444), HOME ($5,680,439.94), and ESG ($847,543) for the 2026 program year, along with authorization for the Bureau Chief of Economic Development to execute related documents. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- All items were approved unanimously with no opposition.
- Co-sponsors were added for item 26-1351 (Commissioners Naya, McCaskill, Scott, Stamps, and Vasquez).
- The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:30 AM, with the boardroom closing and resuming at 1:05 PM for Health and Hospital.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. I'd like to call the to order the workforce housing and community development. This is a recess meeting from March 11th to order. Thank you, ma'am. And uh we will re-establish the roll call. Uh Commissioner Naya. Thank you. Chair Gainer is excused. Commissioner McCaskill. Commissioner Marita. Thank you. Commissioner Scott. Commissioner Stamps. Commissioner Trevor. Thank you. And Madam Chair for Commissioner Miller. Yes. Commissioner Vasquez. I will add them when they return to the room. But you do have a quorum, ma'am. Quorum. Okay. So are there any registered public speakers? You do have two speakers for this meeting. Be reminded of the public speaking rules. First is George Blakemore, followed by Sandy Norman. Thank you. I was having a senior moment talking to the Reverend. How do you measure one success? I couldn't think of the term I wanted to use. Metric. Measurement of one success. Now workforce development. No business. Tend to your business. Black people have no business. They're consumers. They're not business people. I think maybe this week they haven't Johnson uh hair product. That was a businessman. Supporting hair washing and that movement. The defender. Black bank, seaway bank, measurement, metrics. You measure a people by the type of business they have. Mr. Blake Moore, black people don't tend to their business. Abandoned buildings, baking lots, poor education system, teachers of America. I had all black teachers. And they taught us. They taught us.
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