$5 million for United Power's Reclaiming Chicago Campaign in the 2023 State Budget

This is $5 million in additional money that can be utilized towards building homes across the four areas of focus in North Lawndale, Back of the Yards, and Roseland and the rehab of vacant buildings into affordable homes in Chicago Lawn. This is in addition to last year's commitment of $10 million that will be utilized for homebuyer subsidies, the $12.25 million committed for home construction, and $5.3 million from the city of Chicago to prepare the vacant city lots.

$32.55 million total to build and rehab homes, to make them affordable for working families, and to allow those families to begin building wealth and equity. These are the building blocks that will allow construction to begin later this year in North Lawndale and to prepare for moving ahead in the other neighborhoods in the coming months. The effort reflects the power of broad-based organizing: leaders and members both within the Reclaiming neighborhoods and beyond persistently and consistently engaged the support of their Senators and Representatives. An earlier meeting with State Rep Lakesia Collins led to the meeting in Springfield in early April 2022, with Speaker Welch and Rep Kam Buckner, chair of the Black Caucus in the House. Organizers also were able to schedule a meeting with the Governor's staff. In these meetings, in addition to making a case for Reclaiming Communities, IL Metro IAF leaders secured commitments for follow-up with both. In the coming weeks, the Governor's staff committed to schedule a meeting with the Governor and a team of leaders from IL Metro IAF.