The Boone County Housing Authority has been providing affordable, safe housing to low-income families in Boone County, Illinois for 70 years. It assists over 230 families through rental assistance and programs to help participants become self-sufficient. The document profiles three participant families, including a single mother and her children, a retired educator, and a family who has benefited from the housing assistance for seven years. It also outlines the various programs and services offered by the Housing Authority.

1. 1946 – 2016
Boone County, Illinois
Celebrating
Serving Families in
Boone County, Illinois with
Affordable, Safe Housing
70 YEARS
BCHA BOONE COUNTY
HOUSING AUTHORITY

2. 70 YEARS ~ SERVING FAMILIES IN BOONE COUNTY, ILLINOIS WITH AFFORDABLE, SAFE HOUSING
2
The Boone County Housing Authority
Helps low- and moderate-income families with rent assistance for
affordable, safe and quality homes so they can work, learn and
enjoy life. Programs that help housing participants move from
rent assistance to home ownership, as well as other self-sufficiency
tools, are an important part of the BCHA’s programs.
Key Facts About the Boone County Housing Authority
I Serves and assists more than 230 families to become
more self-sufficient.
I Helps program participants move from rental assistance to
home ownership.
I Partners with other organizations to fight poverty.
I Manages federal, state and local programs for families in
Belvidere, Capron, Poplar Grove and throughout Boone County.
I About 20 percent of the BCHA participants are elderly,
30 percent have disabilities, and approximately 200 children
have a safe and affordable home.
I Many served families become self-sufficient, in part through the
BCHA’s self-sufficiency programs, and no longer need assistance,
so the BCHA can continually help more families and impact poverty
in Boone County.
I The housing program brings in almost $1 million annually to the
local economy; landlords use it to pay real estate taxes,
as well as maintain and improve rental properties.

3. 70 YEARS ~ SERVING FAMILIES IN BOONE COUNTY, ILLINOIS WITH AFFORDABLE, SAFE HOUSING
3
HARD-WORKING STEPHANIE GUNN
This single mom with three children
worked hard to consolidate three part-
time jobs into one full-time job as a bus
driver with the Boone County Council on
Aging. Today she is a patient-service
representative for a local hospital.
When Stephanie was accepted into the
housing program of Boone County
Housing Authority, she strategically moved
twice to
provide
a better
environment
for her
family. Each
move took
her family
into safer
neighborhoods, with enough bedrooms
for her children. “I always kept working,
and always kept trying. You have to look
at the positives in life and keep moving
on,” said Stephanie.
Today this positive and cheerful mom
lives in a single-family home with her
three children in a
three-bedroom,
two-bath house with a
full basement, living
room, dining rom,
two-car garage and a
fenced-in backyard. It
is neat, tidy and nicely
decorated.
Stephanie would love
to go back to school,
and become a registered nurse. Her work
background includes five years in the
emergency room of a local hospital, and
she has made it a point to stay in touch
with the doctors and nurses there.
“My experience with the BCHA has been
very good. The staff are absolutely
wonderful. They are very helpful and
knowledgeable. Someday I would love to
own my home. I wish more people were
open-minded about folks in public
housing. Everybody needs assistance
sometime in our lives. I’m very grateful
to be on it. It has helped me out a lot,
and it’s helped my kids.
It allows me to have
my kids in some
extracurricular
activities, like
programs through the
park district. I urge
anyone who needs
housing help to look
into it. If you don’t
ask, you don’t know,”
said Stephanie.
Continued ®
Let’s Meet Stephanie, Judith and Melissa
Stephanie Gunn
The families that participate in the BCHA program live in homes and apartments
throughout Boone County. Let’s meet three of them.
_______________________
“I wish more people were
open-minded about folks
in public housing.
Everybody needs assistance
sometime in our lives.”
_______________________
Stephanie rents this house, with rent assistance from the BCHA.

4. 4
RETIRED EDUCATOR JUDITH BIVINS
Judith Bivins is a
spunky, retired reading
and math paraprofes-
sional from the
Detroit area who
moved into Pearl Place
Senior Apartments,
sight unseen. “My
daughter, who lives in
Belvidere, saw it and
said ‘trust me, mom,
you’ll love it.’”
“Well, I do. I’ve been very happy here,”
she said. Judith has lived in Pearl Place for
11 years. When Belvidere High School was
closed in 1989, the three-building complex
was rehabbed as senior housing in 1996.
The exterior brick of the three historic
buildings was preserved, and 45 rental-
assistance apartments with modern
amenities were created.
“I had a little trouble making my rent, and
the apartment manager told me about
the Boone County Housing Authority.
She said I should apply for rental
assistance, so I did, and now I do
receive some help,” she said.
Judith also appreciates the other
“soft” assistance the BCHA provides.
“Whenever I have questions about
anything, the BCHA staff always responds
quickly with their answers. I don’t hesitate
to call them,” she added.
“I’ve been in education all my life, and
now I’m living in a former high school!
I like living here, I like the small town
atmosphere.
I’m lucky.”
APPRECIATIVE MELISSA OHLSEN
Melissa and Paul Ohlsen have rented
their three-bedroom house for seven
years. They appreciate that the rental
assistance from the Boone County
Housing Authority makes it possible for
them and their two children to call it home.
“There are two women who work in the
housing office, and they’re really good,
very friendly. They look out for us,
advocate for us. If anything is wrong,
they let the landlord know it must be
fixed within so many days, and they come
back to inspect. They want to make sure
you’re living in a safe place,” said
Melissa. “The rental-assistance program
is an easy one to follow,” she added.
Paul is a maintenance man and Melissa
has experience as a cook for the school
district. She would like to get back to
work for schools or in a nursing home.
Judith Bivins
Let’s Meet Stephanie, Judith and Melissa Continued
Melissa Ohlsen and five-year-old daughter McKenna.
Judith’s home
is in the Pearl
Place Senior
Apartments.

5. 70 YEARS ~ SERVING FAMILIES IN BOONE COUNTY, ILLINOIS WITH AFFORDABLE, SAFE HOUSING
5
I Family Self-Sufficiency Program:
BCHA Has One of the Highest
Participation Rates in Illinois
Rent assistance participants can
become economically independent and
self-sufficient by participating in this
program. They can transition from
assisted housing to homeownership.
More than 10 percent of the people in
the housing program have chosen to
participate in the Family Self-Sufficiency
Program; this is one of the highest
participation rates in Illinois.
I Housing Choice Voucher Program
(Section 8)
Rent assistance to eligible low-income
families. This increases their options for
safe and affordable housing. About
230 families are in this program.
I Rental Housing Support Program
This innovative program introduced
state-funded housing assistance to help
an additional 11 families and increase the
number of families helped by over 7 percent.
BCHA’s Housing, Self-Sufficiency and Enrichment Programs
Awards and Recognitions for BCHA
The Boone County Housing Authority manages a wide range of programs that help
participants move toward self-sufficiency.
I NAHRO Award of Merit
The Boone County Housing Authority
received an Award of Merit from the
National Association of Housing and
Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) in
2016. The award was for Administrative
Innovation for the BCHA Family Service
Expansion Program. BCHA retained
existing services and expanded services
to the families it serves with access to a
computer lab, free internet service,
bilingual assistance and more.
I Rental Housing Support Program
through the Illinois Housing
Development Authority
In addition to federal funds through
HUD, the BCHA has been awarded state
funding from the Illinois Housing
Development Authority. This strategically
supplements and maximizes resources for
BCHA participants.
I HUD Recognition
The BCHA has been designated as a
“high-performing housing authority”
by HUD since 2007.
I Unique Family-Unification
Program Trial Program
The BCHA is conducting a trial program
through HUD to assist foster children
with a safety net of safe and affordable
housing when they “age” out of the
system. These older foster children will
have access to more education and job
placement opportunities through this
program. If successful, HUD may
replicate the program nationally.
I $50,000 Grant to Replace Roofs
The BCHA received a $50,000 federal
grant to replace roofs and do related
rehabilitation work. The work will begin
in 2017.

6. 6
Boone County Housing Authority Board of Directors
LEFT TO RIGHT: Raymond Morse,
BCHA Chair Allen Sisson,
Stacy Mickelson, Robert Johns
and Ron Wait.
The BCHA is governed by a board
of commissioners appointed by the
Boone County Chairman.
Allen Sisson, chair
Although he retired in 2016 as a senior vice
president for Alpine Bank, Allen stays active
as a member of the Boone County Board
of Health, Belvidere Cosmopolitan Club,
University of Illinois Illini Club and more.
Robert Johns
A vice president at Poplar Grove State
Bank, Robert also serves on the board of
directors for Crime Stoppers of Boone
County and on the board of elders for
Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Stacy Mickelson
The newest BCHA commissioner works
for RAMP Center for Independent Living
as their independent living advocate and
youth education advocate.
Raymond Morse
This grain farmer is also a Manchester
Township Supervisor, North Boone Fire
District #3 President of Trustees, and a
volunteer fire fighter.
Ronald A. Wait
A former member of the Illinois House of
Representatives for 26 years and a past
president of Highland Hospital, Ron now
serves on the Boone County Community
board and the Cosmopolitan Club.
The Boone County
Housing Authority
Values Our Many Partners
Below are some of our many
key partners.
Belvidere Chamber of Commerce
Belvidere Park District
Boone County
City of Belvidere
Habitat for Humanity
HomeStart
Illinois Housing Development Authority
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
Rock Valley College
U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development
Winnebago County
Winnebago County Housing Authority
Boone County Housing
Authority Staff
Kristin Andrews
Christina Coon
Felicia Davis
Vickie Huwe
Jessica Vanegas
Alan Zais
Region Served
Boone County is located in northern
Illinois and has a population of 53,585 in
a 280 square mile area.

7. 70 YEARS ~ SERVING FAMILIES IN BOONE COUNTY, ILLINOIS WITH AFFORDABLE, SAFE HOUSING
7
Thank You
Thank you for allowing the Boone County Housing Authority to serve our
community with safe, affordable homes and self-sufficiency programs for 70 years.
Referrals Welcomed
If you know someone whom we can assist with affordable housing,
please encourage them to contact the Boone County Housing Authority
at (815) 544-0084 or frontdesk@wchauthority.com.
1946 – The Boone County Housing
Authority (BCHA) was created when it
established a funding relationship
with the U.S. Housing and Urban
Development (HUD). The BCHA
purchased bungalows to sell to returning
World War II veterans as they had
difficulties finding affordable housing.
Many public housing authorities
throughout the country were formed in
the 1940s to serve returning veterans.
1979 – BCHA helped develop two senior
high rises in Belvidere, the Sheffield
Meadow Apartments, 1800 Maple
Avenue, and the Jackson Street
Townhouses, 619 Garden Drive, with
HUD subsidies. The programs
successfully concluded in 2011.
1980s – BCHA introduced HUD’s
Housing Choice Voucher Program
(Section 8) to residents who needed
rental assistance. About 90 residents
initially participated in the program with
rental vouchers.
2007 – BCHA entered into a partnership
with the Winnebago County Housing
Authority to bring administrative
History of The Boone County Housing Authority
efficiency, cost savings, and program
expansions to the families served.
2016 – Celebrated the 70th
anniversary
of the Boone County Housing Authority.
Today, more than 230 low-income families
are assisted by the housing choice voucher
program. They have access to affordable
and safe housing, as well as self-sufficiency
and enrichment programs that help
build communities.
The BCHA originally served returning
World War II veterans.

8. The Boone County Housing Authority continues
to improve and expand our services and resources
to serve families in Boone County.
Please visit our website and Facebook for updates.
BOONE COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY
2036 North State Street
Belvidere, Illinois 61008
815.544.0084
www.bchauthority.com
frontdesk@wchauthority.com
www.facebook.com/boonecountyhousingauthority
©2016 Boone County Housing Authority. All rights reserved. 4C / 11-16 / RLC
Celebrating
70 YEARS
BCHA BOONE COUNTY
HOUSING AUTHORITY