THE LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ILLINOIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM

Foreclosures continue to rise in Illinois. From 2005 to 2007, the number of foreclosure filings in Illinois nearly doubled—to a total of almost 90,800. RealtyTrac®, 2008.

The foreclosure crisis is hurting communities. In Illinois, 61% of all homeowners will likely feel the ripple effects of foreclosures from subprime loans due to an overall decline in property values and the resulting impact on the property tax base. Center for Responsible Lending, 2007.

Workers struggle to afford the rent. A full-time worker in Illinois must earn $16.23 per hour in order to afford the cost of an average two-bedroom apartment ($844) without paying more than 30% of income on housing. Out of Reach, National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2008.

Seniors, people with disabilities and others with limited incomes need affordable places to live. Monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for an individual are $637. If SSI represents an individual's sole source of income, $191 in monthly rent is affordable, while the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $733. Out of Reach, National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2008.

There is a shortage of rental units for those with the lowest incomes. In Chicago, there is a shortage of nearly 85,000 affordable rental units for extremely low-income households. Affordable Housing Conditions and Outlook in Chicago, UIC Voorhees Center, 2006.

There are long waiting lists to access housing subsidies. There are currently 92,521 Housing Choice Vouchers approved for use in Illinois but another 52,969 households are on waiting lists for these vouchers. Not Even A Place in Line, Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights, 2007.

We are losing public housing units.  63,000 public housing units available but approximately 5,000 units have been lost to demolition, conversion or abandonment since 2003. 65,184 Illinois households are on waiting lists for public housing. Not Even A Place in Line, Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights, 2007.

Subsidized rental units are at risk of conversion to market-rate housing. Since 2000, more than 10,000 units of subsidized affordable housing in Illinois have been lost to market-rate conversions.  Another 330,000 subsidized units are at risk of being lost in the next few years On the Road to Success: Illinois’ Comprehensive Housing Plan, Illinois Housing Development Authority, 2006.

Illinois homeless service providers are forced to turn more and more people away. In fiscal year 2007, state-funded homeless shelters and transitional housing programs served 47,697, a 23% increase since fiscal year 2004. However, service providers were forced to turn away 31,676 people because of lack of space and other reasons, an 80% increase since 2004. Illinois Department of Human Services, 2007. This figure does not include the City of Chicago, which does not keep track of the number of people turned away.

Lack of affordable housing exposes women and children to violence. In fiscal year 2007, state-funded Illinois domestic violence programs served 44,526 adults (96% women) and 9,596 children.* In one study, 46% of women in homeless shelters cited not having a safe and affordable housing alternative as the primary reason they remained with an abusive partner.^  *Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2007. ^Homeless in Minnesota 2003, Wilder Research Center, 2004.

Fully accessible housing for people with disabilities is in short supply.  Only about 7.5%, or 8,466 units, of Illinois’ subsidized housing could be made fully accessible to people with disabilities. Locating Affordable and Accessible Housing for People with Disabilities in Illinois, Illinois Assisted Housing Action and Research Project, 2007.

Many more people live in nursing homes and other institutions than necessary.  Illinois is one of the 10 worst states for the delivery of home and community services to people with disabilities and older Americans. ADAPT, 2008.

This problem can be solved!  Visit www.housingactionil.org to find out what you can do.

Updated May 2008

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