ROCKFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY’S TEN CORE VALUES- Consistency

• Leadership
• Respectful
• Quality
• Accountable
• Integrity
• Consistent
• Resourcefulness
• Caring
• Collaborative
• Professional

This blog series will define each of these values and explain how they relate to RHA’s work.

CONSISTENT

Consistency is the art of withstanding change for a period of time. Although RHA has endured many changes over the past 65 years, the one thing that has remained constant is our dedication to providing quality housing for deserving individuals in the Rockford community.  Our devotion to this cause is apparent through RHA’s history.

A TIMELINE

RHA was founded in Rockford in 1951.  Within the first 21 years of our existence, we constructed over 90 percent of our current housing inventory. In 1975, we began to formulate our adult and youth resident empowerment programs. The next

thirteen years saw a burst of new construction, with 139 units added to the community. In 2008 we began redevelopment on the Jane Addams site in the ORCHiD neighborhood. In 2011 we launched the Ellis Heights Choice Neighborhoods planning process.  Two years later, we completed phase one of the Jane’s Nobel Village project. In 2014 all of this hard work was

awarded as we were nationally recognized as a leader in housing and housing program innovation.  As excited as we were to receive this award, we refused to rest on our laurels.  We continued our housing efforts in 2016 when we broke ground on the Grove at Keith Creek project.

THE IMPACT

Over our 65 year history, our housing initiatives have created nearly 2,000 residential units.  These efforts have effectively housed over 3,500 residents each year. 54.3  percent of these residents are senior or disabled, and 44 percent are children under the age of 18. RHA’s residential efforts have kept thousands of Rockford community member off the streets while, simultaneously, providing them with rehabilitation and employment programs.

Year after year, for over six decades, RHA has been dedicated to providing quality housing to those in need.  Our consistency in this effort is paramount to the livelihood of RHA residents.  If we cannot or do not dependably provide quality housing, our residents will be unable to effectively strategize other aspects of their lives.

Since our inception, we have strove to be leaders in housing and sustainable communities, and we plan to continue that legacy for the next 65 years and beyond.