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Housing Action Alert
Take Action to Include Affordable Housing in the State Capital Budget
Problem: Illinois Has a Critical Shortage of Affordable Housing
• More than 1.3 million households in Illinois pay more than 35% of their income for housing, leaving too little for other basic necessities. More than 722,000 households in Illinois pay more than half their income for housing.
• For every new affordable housing unit built, two are lost to demolition, conversion or abandonment.
• More than 26,000 households a year are homeless in state-funded shelters
Solution: Currently, affordable housing is not included in the capital budget.* T he inclusion of an annual $100 million line item in the capital budget, less than 1% of the proposed capital budget would support the construction and preservation of affordable housing statewide through the Illinois Housing Development Authority.
Capital Budget Funding Would Help Address Critical State Needs
• Rehab/Preserve Local Housing Stock. Statewide, more than 200,000 affordable rental units are at risk of loss. In just the next five years, approximately 39,000 subsidized multi-family units may be lost. Yet given current funding constraints, Illinois will be able to preserve less than 800 units this year.
• New Supportive Housing. Illinois could construct new supportive housing units, which provide permanent affordable housing with support services for those who have been homeless or have special needs.
• Affordable Housing Near Jobs. The lack of affordable housing in job-rich areas contributes to increased rates of absenteeism, worker turnover, and lost productivity. Business costs are being driven up as a result. Capital budget funding could create new housing near jobs and opportunity.
Catholic Social Teaching We are challenged give preferential treatment to the needs of the poor and the need for housing is a basic need.
Action Needed:
Ask Governor Blagojevich and legislative leaders- House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, Representative Tom Cross, Senate President Emil Jones Jr., and Senator Frank C. Watson to include $100 million for affordable housing in the capital budget. Affordable housing is a long-term asset that serves a public purpose. Affordable housing is part of our basic infrastructure just like roads, bridges, and schools on which businesses and communities depend. Housing construction and rehabilitation create good high-wage jobs around the state.
A sample letter and link to send letter by Email is below. Please send by August 9.
Dear___________,
I am writing to request the inclusion of an annual $100 million line item in the capital budget, less than 1% of the proposed capital budget, to support the construction and preservation of affordable housing statewide through the Illinois Housing Development Authority.
Illinois has a critical shortage of affordable housing. More than 1.3 million households in Illinois pay more than 35% of their income for housing, leaving too little for other basic necessities.
Illinois under invests in affordable housing. Many states spend substantially more. California spends three times more per capita. New York spends four times more per capita. Florida spends seven times more per capita. Massachusetts spends ten times more per capita.
Affordable housing belongs in the capital budget.
Affordable housing is a long-term asset that serves a public purpose.
Like roads, bridges and schools, affordable housing is part of the basic infrastructure on which business and communities depend.
Housing construction and rehabilitation create good high-wage jobs around the state.
The lack of affordable housing has severe consequences for Illinois residents, Illinois communities and Illinois businesses. Therefore, we urge you to include $100 million for housing in the capital budget.
Sincerely,
*The Capital Budget funds capital projects that create long-term assets for a public purpose such as roads, bridges, and schools.
Information for alert and sample letter was from HousingMatters.net.
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