Abundant Housing Illinois

Link to full article in The Chicago Sun Times

Illinois’ housing shortage is making life more expensive and difficult for people across the state. This scarcity has made it harder for couples to start families, for college graduates to begin their careers and for working class households to stay near jobs due to rapidly rising rents and property taxes.

The damage of competing for housing makes the problem impossible to ignore.

Gov. JB Pritzker recognized the urgency of addressing housing scarcity in an executive order this past December, which launched a statewide effort to find solutions and implored the legislature to make necessary changes to state law.

This year, groups throughout the state have worked with legislators on housing bills. Here’s why the two most critical bills, House Bill 1813 and House Bill 1814, must make it out of the House, through the Senate and to the governor’s desk.

HB 1813 would allow homeowners everywhere in Illinois to build accessory dwelling units, also known as ADUs, coach houses or granny flats. Older ADUs are common in communities throughout Illinois, but most municipalities prohibit the construction of new ADUs. This legislation would provide opportunities for families to generate rental income and for seniors a comfortable way to age in place.

The other bill, HB1814, would allow two-flats to be built in cities over 10,000 people and up to four-flats in cities over 25,000 people. Similar to ADUs, restrictive local laws make buildings like Chicago’s beloved two-, three- and four-flats impossible to build new on the vast majority of residential lots.

These restrictions on home choice are especially challenging for families, as the homes they prohibit are the most likely to have lower rents and 2+ bedroom units. It’s past time to re-legalize ADU’s and two- to four-flats throughout the state

The Illinois Homes for All Coalition, which includes Housing Action Illinois, Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance and Illinois Housing Council, needs help to get these bills to the governor’s desk.

The deadline for the third and final House reading is May 31. Please call or email your state representative and request a third reading for these bills, so Illinois can bring back family-friendly housing choices that help cities in every part of the state create strong foundations for community.

Chloe Groome, lead, Strong Town Chicago, and David Alvarado, and Drake Warren, volunteers, Abundant Housing Illinois