Chicago Housing Authority’s “Year of Renewal” marks key progress in Housing and Accountability Efforts

CHICAGO (July 29, 2025) – At its July 2025 Board Meeting today, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) provided significant progress updates demonstrating how the agency continues to advance its vision of greater transparency and accountability in its operations and resident engagement efforts: 

“Together with CHA’s dedicated employees, we deemed 2025 our ‘Year of Renewal. This was a demonstration of our commitment to doing things differently and getting it right. A core component of the Year of Renewal was our pledge to provide periodic and transparent public updates on our progress,” said CHA Interim CEO Angela Hurlock. “And I’m proud to say in just a short time, we are seeing tangible results.”    

In a major step to protect residents’ well-being, CHA launched the new Healthy Homes Division, led by three former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) professionals. The team is focused on proactively addressing lead-based paint and other environmental hazards. Over the last two months, the division has addressed lead hazards in 18 buildings, benefitting 70 apartments with a prioritization on homes with children. 

Through the Healthy Homes team, CHA is actively sponsoring a series of summer training courses designed to equip construction staff and contractors, including prequalified Section 3 businesses, with the skills needed to perform lead-safe work practices. These trainings aim to ensure that all future renovations and unit turnovers are completed without creating lead hazards, further supporting CHA’s commitment to resident health and housing safety. 

The agency launched its first citywide resident survey, developed in partnership with an external consultant to ensure confidential and candid input. Nearly 4,000 households have responded so far. Results will inform CHA’s next strategic plan. The response portal closes on Aug. 8, 2025. 

“The work ahead is substantial. But so is our commitment to doing it differently and getting it right. This is our Year of Renewal and, in a short time, CHA has turned words into action,” Interim CEO Hurlock said.

As CHA looks ahead, key priorities include: 

Restore Home, CHA’s capital improvement program to renovate vacant scattered-site units, is behind schedule and will not meet its initial Summer 2025 target. To date, construction work has been advanced or completed on more than half of the Restore Home properties – 44 total, representing 133 units. Construction has yet to begin on 32 properties. We now anticipate that this work will be ongoing through at least the end of 2026, and possibly into 2027. 

CHA continues to preserve and modernize public housing across the agency’s portfolio. The ABLA/Brooks rehabilitation—currently CHA’s largest renovation project—represents a significant investment in quality housing.  All 330 apartments will undergo complete interior and exterior renovations to deliver the safe, stable, high-quality homes residents deserve. 

With federal housing support in flux, CHA remains focused on deepening collaboration and engagement with residents to navigate challenges and deliver on its mission. 

For more information, visit the Data and Impact Hub.