Putting a Roof Over Illegal Immigrants

The Olveras, illegal immigrants who crossed the Mexico-U.S. border nearly 13 years ago, had longed for this part of the American dream -- complete with a basketball hoop in the driveway and a barbecue in the backyard.

Because of a housing pilot program run by the state of Illinois, as well as a growing interest among banks to tap into the burgeoning market of illegal immigrants, families like the Olveras are able to get a mortgage -- sometimes at a discounted interest rate.

"We always wanted a place where the kids could go to a good school," said Olvera, 39, who works busing tables at a nearby restaurant. "We wanted a shorter commute to work

The program, Opportunity I-Loan, was launched late last year by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, and the state Housing Development Authority. The agency is charged with helping low-income families own homes.

The goal of Opportunity I-Loan is to help make it easier for people who fall under the credit reporting and banking industry's radar to obtain home loans, said Bryan Zises, spokesman for the Housing Development Authority. This type of person tends to be wary of banks and prefers to pay bills in cash. They also, Zises said, are often vulnerable to predatory loan scams.

Unlike a traditional mortgage application, the program allows people to use rent receipts, pay stubs, utility bills and letters of recommendation from landlords to prove their credit reliability. They also need to have proof of paid taxes. For people who don't have a Social Security number -- such as illegal immigrants -- the program will allow them to use tax returns with federally issued Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers.

"If they're living here and paying taxes here, why can't they buy a house here?" Zises said. "Our responsibility is to the communities and families that work and live in Illinois, not to patrol who is or is not here legally."

The state's unusual effort to help illegal workers become more rooted in their communities is happening as the role of government in immigration continues to be hotly debated.