Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar has proclaimed April 14-20 Affordable Housing Week.

In recognition of Affordable Housing Week, the Housing Committee of Networking for Families in DeKalb has planned some special events.

The Housing Committee will highlight the week with events that focus on housing located in DeKalb County.

Despite some bad weather, NIU started the week off with the National Hunger and Homelessness Clean-up on April 13. A total of 145 participants painted and cleaned up at eleven different locations around DeKalb County including Safe Passage and the Salvation Army.

“We were really pleased with the turnout Saturday, but we still are not sure (of) the total amount of money raised until all the pledges come in,” said Kathy Engel, a participant of the cleanup and coordinator of Justice and Peace at the Newman Catholic Student Center.

In other events, the Networking for Families Housing Committee will hold a banquet Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at the Newman Center, 512 Normal Road. The price of admission is $10 a person, and the public is invited.

At the banquet, local housing efforts in DeKalb County will be recognized, and the recipient of the first annual Jubilee Services Housing Award will be announced.

“We wanted to finally highlight some of the good housing initiatives in DeKalb County,” said Andrea Rusin, program director of Jubilee Services.

All proceeds raised at the banquet will go to the DeKalb County Shelter for the Homeless, 316 N. 6th St., which will hold an open house on April 21 from 2 to 5 p.m.