Health and Community Service Committee Meeting - August 4, 2026

The Health and Community Service Committee met on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 8:31 AM. The meeting was conducted in person with remote attendance available via Zoom. A physical quorum was present. The committee approved the consent agenda and several resolutions, and received an update on the Healthy Houses program that raised concerns about state-imposed restrictions.

Consent Calendar

• 8.1 – Committee action approving the minutes from the July 7, 2026 meeting. Motion by Member Maine, seconded by Vice Chair Altenberg. Unanimously approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Items 8.2 and 8.3 (Combined) – Joint resolutions approving the first amendment to Program Year 2026 funding recommendations. 8.2 governs the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annual action plan and authorizes an emergency appropriation of $390,818 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME program income. 8.3 covers the Lake County Affordable Housing Funds Program. Staff (Dominic) explained that $880,000 in total new funding was available due to program income ($390,000) and state tax credit awards. Proposed allocations: $500,000 to acquire three homes from the Lake County Housing Authority ($150,000 each to SEPA and Raquans Haven, $200,000 to Housing Opportunity Development Corporation), $300,000 to SEPA for the Lake Forest Senior Cottage project (replenishing a prior commitment), and approximately $78,000 to the Full Circle acquisition/rehab of Liberty Lake apartments. Funding sources were aligned to maximize flexibility, including using local Affordable Housing dollars for a tenant near the 80% AMI cap. The motion to approve items 8.2 and 8.3 passed unanimously.
• Item 8.4 – Joint resolution accepting the Program Year 2027 capacity expansion grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) for $96,200. The grant funds a landlord/property engagement specialist position and consultant costs ($20,000 for dashboard maintenance and homeless coalition support). The position is year-to-year and intended to centralize rental market information. The motion passed unanimously.
• Item 9 (County Administrator’s Report) – Update on the Healthy Houses program (HVAC improvement grant from DCEO, $2 million). Applications opened March 2026; 100 letters of interest, 70 full applications, 10 in first round. DCEO imposed narrow eligibility criteria: landlords must have 4-6 units, tenants at 80% AMI, and the landlord cannot have received any COVID-related assistance. Nonprofit partners like SEPA were deemed ineligible, and DCEO cited a HUD duplication-of-benefits rule. Staff noted these restrictions were not part of the original grant announcement and would make spending the full $2 million by June 2027 unlikely. Committee members discussed engaging state legislators and the county lobbyist to clarify intent. No action taken; staff will keep committee informed.
• Recognition – Dr. Michael Connor was recognized for receiving the Human Ex Venturis Exemplar Award in Education for leadership and mentorship.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda (8.1) approved.
• Items 8.2 and 8.3 approved together.
• Item 8.4 approved, creating a new full-time position in Community Development.
• Healthy Houses program remains under review due to restrictive DCEO guidance; staff will continue advocacy through state lobbyist.
• Next meeting scheduled for August 25, 2026.