PAWNEE, IL — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Pawnee Mayor Jeff Clarke visited Pawnee Senior Homes to visit with residents and hold a roundtable on the importance of affordable housing access in Central and Southern Illinois. 

“Thriving communities are built around access to safe and affordable housing options,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I’m grateful to the stakeholders and community leaders who came together in Pawnee today to discuss the success of developments like Pawnee Senior Homes and the importance of ensuring that every senior has dignity, stability and independence in their golden years. I look forward to working with our local leaders to continue improving housing options for seniors and working families throughout our region.” 

“FHLBank Chicago’s Affordable Housing Program investment in the Pawnee Senior Homes addresses the critical need for housing for low- and moderate-income families in rural communities,” said Michelle Gross, Vice Chairperson of the Board at Federal Home Loan Bank Chicago and EVP/COO/ISO at State Bank of Bement. “We are very proud of the positive impact FHLBank Chicago has as one of the largest sources of private funding for affordable housing and community development in the communities we serve across our district of Illinois and Wisconsin.”  

Pawnee Senior Homes was constructed in 2020 with the help of a $480,000 Affordable Housing Program grant provided by Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) Chicago, providing 30 units of rental housing for local seniors. Pawnee Mayor Jeff Clarke and Representatives from FHLBank Chicago, the State Bank of Bement, Carrollton Bank, the Illinois Bankers Association and the Christian County Development Corporation joined Budzinski for the roundtable. 

Congresswoman Budzinski was recently in Pawnee to present the village with a check for $500,000 in federal funding for a water main replacement project. Budzinski secured the funding in a recent bipartisan government funding bill after submitting a request for the resources during the House of Representatives’ Community Project Funding process. In total, Congresswoman Budzinski has secured $136.1 million for community projects throughout Illinois’ 13th Congressional District.