DuPage County residents in older apartment buildings could see energy upgrades worth up to $1 million after the Human Services Committee unanimously approved a slate of housing and social-services contracts totaling more than $1.4 million on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
The largest item: a renewed contract with A Lugan Contractors, LLC for architectural and mechanical services on multi-family weatherization projects, running through Nov. 15, 2027, at up to $1 million. It is the first of three optional one-year renewals under bid #25-023-WEX, according to committee meeting minutes.
The committee also approved a $104,000 contract with the Community and Economic Development of Cook County (CEDA) for weatherization work at College Park Apartments, plus $25,000 for Crowley Engineering to provide related engineering services.
The county-level contracts affect residents across DuPage, including Downers Grove, Woodridge and Westmont. Multi-family weatherization targets rental buildings of two or more units that have not received state weatherization assistance in the past 15 years. Households earning up to 60% of state median income qualify. For a family of four in the DuPage County area, that threshold is roughly $95,900 a year.
Housing self-sufficiency and homeless services
The committee accepted $169,000 from the DuPage Housing Authority's Family Self-Sufficiency Program for program year 2026. The HUD-funded program helps Housing Choice Voucher participants build savings in escrow while working toward financial independence.
Three residents graduated. Community Services Director Mary Keating highlighted the graduates at the meeting, noting one earned a bachelor's degree, another a master's degree and a third pursued a career in the trades. Two retrieved escrow savings from the DuPage Housing Authority, and one received the state-level Family of Distinction honor.
The committee also authorized two federal Continuum of Care grant proposals from HUD totaling $302,830: $212,094 for the county's Homeless Management Information System and $90,736 for coordinated entry services. Those amounts match prior-year DuPage County awards listed in HUD's CoC competition report published May 21, suggesting the grants are renewals rather than new funding.
What's next
All items were moved and seconded by committee members Dawn DeSart, Paula Deacon Garcia and Kari Galassi under Chair Greg Schwarze. They now advance to the Finance Committee before reaching the full DuPage County Board for final votes.
The 35-minute meeting, which adjourned at 10:05 a.m., also included a 2027 Community Services budget presentation from Keating and a construction update from DuPage Care Center Administrator Janelle Chadwick, who reported that renovations to 1 North, physical and occupational therapy areas and the secret garden are all progressing.
