Guest column: Illinois must act now to solve affordable housing crisis by passing tax credit bill

Chicago Tribune

25-04-2025

Every day, the Association for Individual Development (AID) witnesses the growing demand for affordable homes. Individuals facing developmental, intellectual, physical and mental health challenges as well as those who are chronically unhoused are struggling to find homes they can afford, putting their stability and well-being at risk.
We know how to meet this need — by building more affordable housing — but we need the right tools to make it happen. The Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit is one of those tools. This proposed state legislation will help shovel-ready developments cross the finish line and bring urgently needed homes to vulnerable communities across the state.
Our nonprofit, based in Aurora, provides services across seven counties in Illinois, including the far western suburbs of Chicago. We have just finished building Wildwood Commons and Trace in Elgin. This development took vacant, unused acres and converted them into a beautiful neighborhood complete with artistic murals that provides housing for 74 families who need it most. The waiting list for these units is more than 600 people long.
We secured highly competitive federal tax credits for the development but found it necessary to leverage other financing to move the development towards construction. If the Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit were in place now, we would be able to create more affordable homes for residents in need.
We are also in the process of constructing Las Rosas, a permanent supportive housing development in Aurora. The property was the previous home to an unused religious school but will be transformed into homes for individuals and families with disabilities or facing homelessness.
These properties are excellent examples of how the Build Illinois Homes tax credit program could unlock increased development and address the shortage of housing across our communities.
Illinois currently faces a shortfall of more than 289,000 affordable rental homes for its lowest-income residents. This is not just a crisis for those directly impacted — it weakens our entire state.
When individuals with disabilities, unhoused individuals and extremely low-income families cannot access affordable housing, they are more likely to face unnecessary costly institutionalization and chronic homelessness. When families and individuals are forced to spend the bulk of their income on rent, they have less to invest in local economies. And when housing insecurity rises, so do emergency services and health care costs, putting additional strain on public resources.
The Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit (HB 1147/SB 62) is a proven, bipartisan solution to this crisis. This proposal has already been adopted in more than 25 other states, and it would create a stable and predictable funding source for affordable housing development. The state does not spend a dime until developments are completed. This minimizes taxpayer risk while maximizing public benefit and ensures that private investment flows into Illinois communities, helping to build high-quality housing without requiring state funds upfront.
Illinois cannot afford to wait any longer. The cost of inaction is far greater than the investment needed to solve this crisis. If we do nothing, housing costs will continue to rise, pushing more families into instability and making it harder for businesses to attract workers. But if we act now, we can create a stronger, more resilient Illinois where our workforce and vulnerable populations have the security of a home, and communities thrive.
The Build Illinois Homes Tax Credit is a smart, common-sense investment in our state's future. We urge lawmakers to pass HB 1147/SB 62 and take decisive action to address our housing crisis. The time to act is now.