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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate the Housing Authority of
4Joliet on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of its founding;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, On February 26, 1945, Mayor Arthur O. Jank
7submitted an official statement of finding of housing in the
8City of Joliet, indicating that there was a shortage of safe
9and sanitary dwelling accommodations available to persons of
10lower income; that statement of finding was included as part of
11Resolution No. 408, approved by the City of Joliet City Council
12on February 26, 1945; and
 
13    WHEREAS, On April 9, 1945, the State of Illinois Housing
14Board approved the establishment of the Housing Authority of
15Joliet; the Honorable Mayor Janke then recommended the
16appointment of 5 citizens as the first Commissioners of the
17Housing Authority of Joliet: John O. Holmes (Upholsterer),
18Albert H. Jackson (Editorial Department of the Chicago Times),
19Lee E. Coleman (Methodist Minister), William J. Downey
20(Business Representative of the Plumbers and Steamfitters),
21and Albert Felman (Boston Store Owner/Operator); and
 
22    WHEREAS, On December 12, 1945, the Housing Authority of

 

 

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1Joliet held its first Board Meeting at the American Legion
2Building for the purpose of organizing the Authority by
3adopting by-laws and a seal, electing officers, and taking such
4other action necessary to launch; on the same day, the Housing
5Authority of Joliet Board of Commissioners hired a temporary
6Executive Director, Harry W. Osman; the Housing Authority of
7Joliet immediately began planning for the development and
8construction of conventional low-income public housing within
9the City of Joliet; however, it was not until 1954 that the
10first housing development (Van Horne Homes) was constructed
11within the 300 block of South Water Street; the development
12consisted of 46 row homes varying in size from 1 to 4 bedroom
13units; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Over the years, the local community thrived and
15grew, as did its need for additional affordable housing; it is
16this growth that prompted the Housing Authority of Joliet to
17further develop additional properties and to seek out
18additional low-income housing programs to meet the
19communities' escalating housing needs; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Since that time, the Housing Authority of Joliet
21has constructed and operated 1,099 public housing program
22rental units which have provided housing assistance to
23families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Leading the Housing Authority of Joliet into the
221st century is the Chief Executive Officer, Michael Simelton,
3who continues the Authority's history of promoting inclusive
4communities and quality affordable homes for all and
5strengthening the housing market to bolster the economy and
6protect consumers; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Functioning for 70 years, the Housing Authority of
8Joliet has been at the forefront and steadfastly committed to
9bringing exceptional housing services and programs to the
10people of the City of Joliet and surrounding Will County
11communities; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
13NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
14congratulate the Housing Authority of Joliet on its 70th
15Anniversary, and we wish them many more successful years; and
16be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18presented to the Housing Authority of Joliet as an expression
19of our esteem and respect.