Population Served

Spanish Coalition for Housing specializes in serving the growing Latino community.  Illinois is the state with the fifth largest Latino population .  According to a recent study conducted by the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame, Latinos have accounted for 96 percent of the Chicago region’s growth from 1970 to 2004 .  In 2004, Latinos became the largest minority in the Chicago region .  Although Latino homeownership is increasing and has reached an all-time high, Latinos are still less likely than other Americans to become homeowners.  Only 52.1% of Hispanic householders in Illinois are homeowners compared to 68.6% for all householders .  The Latino population is rapidly growing in the Chicago area.  Within the City of Chicago, 42.0% o of the population is White and 36.8% is African-American.  26.0% of respondents’ identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino, although Hispanic or Latinos persons can be of any race .  However, the Latino population has experienced difficulty accessing housing services.  Latino participation in various housing programs range from 2% to 11%, although Latinos now make up about 30% of the population in the Chicago area .

Spanish Coalition for Housing has three offices located in the Humboldt Park, Pilsen and South Chicago neighborhoods.  All three neighborhoods are located in areas of high Latino concentrations.  SCH goes beyond just providing services in the native language.  SCH staff is also familiar and sensitive to the needs of the various Latino groups that they serve.  Outreach and programs are tailored to the needs of the neighborhoods and its population.  In addition, SCH collaborates with local groups, churches and schools in order to better serve the community. 

SCH offices are strategically located to serve the Chicago Metro area; however, some clients have come from as far as Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin because the services that Spanish Coalition for Housing provides are not available in their communities.  SCH has also assisted families that want to transfer their HUD vouchers to Puerto Rico.  Services are offered in both Spanish and English.  Although SCH specializes in serving the Latino community, no one is turned away for service.  In the past few years, demands for SCH services have approximately tripled.

Spanish Coalition for Housing served 10,250 clients in 2004.  Approximately 99% of Spanish Coalition for Housing’s clientele is under 80% of the HUD medium income.  The majority of clients are also under 60% of HUD median income.  Only less than 1% of clients earn more than 80% of HUD median income, most ofthem coming through the homeownership counseling program.  Although many assume that homeowners are people of means, the Spanish Coalition clientele is generally low income families that have worked hard towards homeownership and/or qualify for special housing programs.  The majority of the Spanish Coalition clients are minorities, primarily Latinos, but some are African-American.  Overall, about 80% of the clients are from female-headed households.  In the Money Smart program, 90% of those that attend are women.