Category: Neighborhood Services Department News

Virtual Home Maintenance 101 Workshop

On April 22, 2021, Neighborhood Services collaborated with Habitat for Humanity to conduct a virtual Home Maintenance 101 workshop. Rehab Technician Joe Lewis presented maintenance tips for homeowners: including visual checks inside and outside the home; replacement of furnace filters; smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; and knowing the locations of main water and gas shut […]


IHDA Homeownership Programs

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) gave a presentation to City staff and partners at the monthly meeting of the Community Reinvestment Group. Javier Gamucio, IHDA’s Director of Homeownership, presented information on IHDA’s housing downpayment assistance programs. IHDA currently offers five mortgage products that offer down payment, closing cost assistance and 30-year fixed rate mortgages […]


Solar Decathlon Open House

On April 10, 2021, City staff attended the grand opening of ADAPTHAUS, located at 1202 N. Walnut. ADAPTHAUS was created by the Illinois Solar Decathlon student team for the US Department of Energy’s 2020 Solar Decathlon, which is a competition that challenges students to design and construct high-functioning, low carbon homes. ADAPTHAUS is a modular […]


Virtual Neighborhood Leaders Meeting

On April 7, the Neighborhood Services Department – Coordination Division hosted its monthly virtual neighborhood leaders meeting. City Manager Dorothy Ann David was the keynote presenter for the meeting which was held via Zoom. During her presentation, the City Manager shared information on City operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her presentation highlighted the City’s resiliency […]


Tips to Protect Your Home and Stay Warm During Frigid Temperatures

With frigid temperatures settling into Central Illinois for the next week, the City of Champaign reminds residents and landlords to take proactive measures to protect your homes and stay warm during this long period of forecasted freezing temperatures: Replace the air filter in your furnace to help it run as efficiently as possible. Consider adding […]


Vacant Lot Disposition Program Creates Opportunity for Unique Affordable Housing Options

The Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) Programs Division administers the vacant lot disposition program on behalf of the City. A key goal of the program is to identify suitable reuse options for vacant City-owned lots throughout Champaign. In some instances, lot size and location reduce a lot’s desirability and development possibilities. These situations call for innovative […]


City Provides CDBG COVID Relief Funds to Support Those in Need

The United Way was awarded $58,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) COVID Relief funds to support their CU Better Together Initiative. CU Better together is a collaboration of organizations whose goal is to support families with school aged children by reducing food insecurity during COVID19. Meals are provided to families in need and distributed […]


COVID-19 Relief Grant Update

The City’s COVID-19 relief programs have made a meaningful impact in the community. This past summer, the City received a special allocation of Community Development Block Grant funds through the federal CARES Act to be used to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. After a thorough analysis of needs and community collaboration, subrecipient agreements with five […]


Landlord Virtual Forum

On November 20, the Neighborhood Services Department – Coordination Division facilitated the “Landlords: Helping Tenants Access Rent Resource” virtual forum. The purpose of the forum was to educate landlords on available resources and encourage continued communication with tenants to ensure they know how to access the help they need. Staff from Champaign County Regional Planning […]


City Abatement

Two Administrative Search warrants were obtained by the Code Compliance Division of Neighborhood Service Department to clean up two properties that had been cited for refuse and unapproved outdoor storage. Neighbors had been concerned about properties for some time, and the owner has continued to not comply with notices of violation. The two properties are […]