BUFFALO GROVE — State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) is encouraging families who want to buy a house but are hindered by student loan debt to take advantage of Illinois’ new SmartBuy mortgage and student loan assistance program. 

“Young people, particularly young people who live in minority communities, are often held back from purchasing a home due to the weight of student loan debt,” Johnson said. “Families deserve the peace of mind that they can have both a quality education and a forever home.” 

The Illinois Housing Development Authority launched the SmartBuy program, which offers a safe, affordable 30-year fixed rate first mortgage with $5,000 in assistance to be used toward a down payment and/or closing costs. In addition, the program allows people to combine their student loan debt into a mortgage in an effort to lower the high interest rate of student loans and get rid of the student loan portion of debt. The program provides 15% of the purchase price, or up to $40,000, in student loan debt relief to borrowers.

A 2018 study by the University of Illinois found that outstanding student loan debt negatively impacts wealth accumulation for all borrowers — regardless of race — but the impact is especially significant for Black and Latinx borrowers.

To qualify for SmartBuy, potential borrowers must have at least $1,000 in student loan debt and must pay off their full remaining student loan balance at closing. The program also requires a FICO mid-score of at least 640, and applicants must meet certain income and purchase price requirements.

SmartBuy was created using funding from the historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois statewide construction plan, and is expected to assist approximately 500 to 1000 borrowers.

Learn more about SmartBuy and find a list of SmartBuy approved loan vendors at www.ihdamortgage.org/smartbuy.

LAKE COUNTY, Ill. —State Senators Julie Morrison and Adriane Johnson are congratulating a number of Lake County-based museums who were awarded part of a $22.8 billion grant to improve facilities and develop new exhibits. 

“Museums serve as a place for people to explore, families to bond and children to learn,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Due to the ongoing public health crisis, many of these outstanding facilities have lost money, despite continuing to share their facilities with the public through new virtual ways.” 

Buffalo Grove Park District was one of more than three dozen institutions to receive part of the $22.8 million in funding. The Educational Gardens at The Nature Classroom program through the park district received $246,000. 

“Museums and the exhibits and programs they offer help tell a story of our community and state’s history,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “The additional funding will allow these institutions to expand, grow and create more opportunities for Lake County residents and all who visit.”

The Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program, spearheaded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, was open to any museum operated by a local government or located on municipally-owned land.

The  Waukegan History Museum Expansion at the Carnegie Center through the Waukegan Park District, located in the district Johnson represents, also received $750,000 in assistance through the grant program. 

Additionally, the Chicago Botanic Garden, located in the district Morrison represents, received $750,000 for water main improvements. 

For more information on the Museum Capital Grant Program, visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resource’s website.

I am pleased to announce Anton Mathews and Jack Schmerer have joined my team to help me best serve the constituents of the 30th District. 

Mathews will serve as my new constituent services lead. He is a lifelong resident of Lake County and a devoted leader in the Waukegan community. He previously served as an outreach and communications specialist with the Lake County Treasurer’s Office. 

Mathews currently serves as chairman of the College of Lake County Lakeshore Advisory Board and as a member of Leaders United of Lake County. Additionally, he gives back to the community by mentoring youth in Waukegan.

I know Mathews will bring his strong commitment to building up our community and helping others in his new role of assisting and serving every resident of the 30th District.

Schmerer will serve in a part-time capacity as an aide to assist me and support the work we do on behalf of constituents in the district.

Schmerer has considerable business experience and has been an audio-visual consultant for over 30 years. He served as a commissioner on the Buffalo Grove Park District Board for 13 years and currently serves on the Buffalo Grove Park District Friends of the Parks Foundation. 

Please help me congratulate these two extraordinary men and thank them for all the work they’ve already done and will continue to do. 

BUFFALO GROVE – State Senator Adriane Johnson is encouraging any Illinois resident who is uninsured or underinsured to visit the Affordable Care Act Marketplace during the open enrollment period, which runs from Nov. 1 to Dec.15.

“Quality health insurance is a basic human right that no one should have to go without,” Johnson said. “Thankfully, people who don’t have employer-sponsored plans or don’t qualify for Medicaid still have an option. I encourage anyone in need to visit the ACA Marketplace immediately.”

This year, Illinoisans will be able to choose from 179 plans from eight insurance providers. There are also tax credits available to help lower-income residents reduce their monthly payments and find affordable coverage.

Last year, more than 240,000 people received tax credits, and after credits were applied, the average monthly payment was $153.

There are three tiers of coverage to choose from that balance coverage and cost: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Anyone who is already covered under an ACA plan will automatically be enrolled in the same or a similar plan if they don’t make a different selection.

“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t just affected people’s health, it’s affected their careers and therefore their health care benefits,” Johnson said. “People who have experienced loss of work can visit the marketplace even after the open enrollment period has ended.”

To learn more or select a plan, Illinois residents can visit https://getcoveredillinois.gov.