Carpentersville makes plea for help with foreclosures

Carpentersville officials hope to get a little help with the growing problem of foreclosed homes through federal housing dollars coming to Kane County.

Village President Bill Sarto on Wednesday joined County Board Member Hollie Kissane in a plea to the county's Housing & Community Development department for as large a chunk of the money as possible.

Sarto said the number of Carpentersville homes foreclosed or in the process of foreclosure now total 802, 120 more homes than the county previously reported.

In November, the county produced a list of Kane County communities, aside from Elgin and Aurora, with foreclosure problems. Carpentersville was at the top of the list.

"We have a great need, obviously," Sarto told county staff. "We do need your help, and I'm here to ask for that."

Foreclosed homes place an additional cost and manpower burden on local police as they often are magnets for vandalism and gang activity, Sarto said.

Both Sarto and Kissane said they'd like county staff to better publicize the availability of assistance, as they believe most homeowners with troubled properties are unaware of the county's ability to help.

The help available mainly is for urban renewal and blight removal, as well as for the creation and assistance of affordable housing or housing rehabilitation.

The county board is set to give final approval in April to selected applicants for the federal dollars. The funding won't actually begin until June.