History

MCCA was formed on October 21st, 1965 as the McLean County Economic Opportunity Corporation (MCEOC) in response to the community’s need for a unified voice to address the economic problems in the Bloomington-Normal area of McLean County, Illinois.

Throughout the 1960’s and into the early ‘70’s, MCEOC continued to advocate for more and improved legal services for low income people, and in 1976, those efforts paid off with the establishment of the McLean County Legal Aid Society, now known as Prairie State Legal Services

In 1976, MCEOC took on the federal and state energy assistance and emergency funds programs, as there was no other qualifying organization willing to provide these services.

The fundamental mission of the agency continued in the 1980’s, when outreach and information and referral services for the elderly in Livingston County were added.  In 1981, MCEOC became part of the Community Action network of agencies and the name was changed to Mid Central Community Action, Inc. (MCCA). When the YWCA of McLean County lost funding from the Coalition against Domestic Violence, MCCA took over the program and its $8000 debt when no other agency would.   In 1993, a historical Victorian home was purchased, and 100 community volunteers assisted with a complete rehab of the house. Neville House now provides short-term shelter for abused women and their children, and can accommodate up to five families at a time.

In 1988, MCCA purchased a house for use as two emergency housing units for families. In 1992, this house was fully rehabbed for use as a transitional home for homeless families. During 1994 and ’95, three more were purchased for rehab, providing four more transitional units, allowing MCCA to expand the Transitional Housing program.

In 1995, MCCA became the administrator of the McLean County Affordable Housing Coalition; which provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first time home buyers. Another house was purchased and rehabbed in 1996, providing two more transitional housing units, and developed a formal program of Blended Management for all Transitional Housing

In 1997, MCCA helped start the McLean County Continuum of Care for homeless persons with local agencies and government, as a conduit organization for funding for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs to assist the homeless. During the same year, staff were trained and certified as HUD Housing Counselors. In 1998, at recommendation of the Continuum of Care, MCCA purchased a house and two adjoining lots to develop permanent single room supportive housing for homeless and other low-income single persons. This development is a tax credit project. In honor of its history as the former home of two of Bloomington’s Mayors, the building was named Mayors Manor, and provides 26 efficiency apartments for qualifying individuals. This project is operated by the Mayors Manor Limited Partnership with MCCA performing the role of property manager for the partnership, as well as providing the case management and supportive services.

1999 saw further expansion within MCCA’s housing programs. A local contractor volunteered to build affordable homes on lots acquired in 1995, with donated labor and some materials from other corporations in the community. A new home was completed in 2000, which sold for $10,000 under market price. Two duplexes were donated by Town of Normal to be used as transitional houses, bringing the total number of transitional units to ten, one of which was disposed of in 2004.

The Affordable Housing Coalition expanded to become the Central Illinois Coalition for Affordable Housing, including Livingston County, and the Coalition received a $395,000 IHDA loan to assist first home buyers with down payment and closing costs.

State Farm Bank, Bloomington Community Development, the Town of Normal, and MCCA formed the Olde Towne Neighborhood Redevelopment Partnership, and construction commenced on two remaining lots for affordable homes to be sold. Two additional homes on West Front Street were built in 2001 with donated labor, and were sold.

In 2003, an application was submitted for membership in the NeighborWorks® America network, a network of more than 225 community-based nonprofit organizations working to revitalize more than 2,500 communities through resident-led affordable housing and community development activities. After an extensive assessment of the organization, MCCA became a chartered member of NeighborWorks® America in September 2004.

In May 2005, the former Beich candy factory on Bloomington’s west side burned to the ground. MCCA had been gifted the building four years prior by the Beich family, and had been vacant since 1973. The subsequent demolition of the burned building made way for MCCA to develop a new housing subdivision, the Trailside Subdivision. This $3.7 million project is currently in progress, infrastructure was completed in 2007, and 23 new, affordable homes will be constructed on the site. To date, four of the homes have been completed, and are ready for sale.

Three lots were purchased in Pontiac, Livingston County, for the construction of affordable homes. These homes were completed in 2008, and to date one has been sold.

In August 2007, with assistance from State Farm Bank, MCCA launched an Individual Development Account (IDA) program. Participants in the program pledge to save $10.00 a week for two years and meet with a case manager weekly to discuss and review their budgeting goals. At the end of the 2-year period, MCCA will match the funds 2:1, with the stipulation that the money be used as a down-payment on a house.

Also in August, MCCA moved to a much-needed larger building. The new location is more convenient for clients and staff alike. The construction of a Home Ownership Center within the new building allows home owners and potential home owners to visit a one-stop homeownership facility, with programs including pre- and post-purchase education, mortgage services and foreclosure intervention. Programs are also provided in Spanish to serve the growing Hispanic population.

In June 2008, MCCA took over two programs from The Baby Fold. A cut in funding meant that the Baby Fold was no longer able offer the Second Chance Renters and Life Skills programs to McLean County residents. With both of those programs falling within the scope of the mission, MCCA was able to step in to keep the programs running. Life Skills classes are currently held each week at three different Bloomington locations – the Compassion Center for the homeless, Bloomington Housing Authority, and the Home Sweet Home mission. Life Skills offers participants instruction in topics such as budgeting, health and nutrition, time management and goal setting. The 3-day long Second Chance Renters program is offered once a month and covers similar topics to Life Skills, with the addition of a session on landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities.