Illinois expands vacant home program

The state of Illinois is expanding a program that subsidizes homebuyers interested in vacant houses in certain cities.

Gov. Pat Quinn said Thursday the Illinois Building Blocks program will now be available in 15 cities around the state after starting in five.

The program offers $10,000 to potential buyers to help with down payments and closing costs.

Cities added Thursday are Belleville, Blue Island, Champaign, Cicero, Crest Hill, Joliet, Lockport, Lynwood, Melrose Park and Peoria. Berwyn, Chicago Heights, Maywood, Park Forest and South Holland were already part of the program.

Illinois Building Blocks targets areas hit hard by foreclosures and with high numbers of vacant houses.