Housing won’t be affordable until Illinois starts building more units

By LyLena Estabine

05/21/2025

Illinois municipal leaders didn’t grant building permits to enough new housing in 2024. Low numbers and lack of density indicate Illinois could improve its housing picture with more development.

TAGS: affordable housing, housing market

Chicago’s housing red tape remains tangled 1 year since mayor’s pledge

By LyLena Estabine

04/29/2025

It's been a year since Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson released his ‘Cut the Tape’ report to boost affordable housing and economic growth. Little of the red tape has been removed.

TAGS: affordable housing

Chicago’s housing policy still promotes exclusion

By LyLena Estabine

04/24/2025

Granny flats and basement dwellings could help with housing affordability, but Chicago’s outdated zoning rules make them nearly impossible to build. Those rules were created to promote economic and racial segregation. They need to be changed

TAGS: affordable housing

Chicago makes it too hard to build dwelling units

By LyLena Estabine

04/16/2025

Other cities unleashed small-scale housing. Chicago buried it in red tape. Now it’s hurting renters, seniors and working families.

TAGS: affordable housing

Banning credit checks won’t help Illinois’ poor get housing

By LyLena Estabine

04/10/2025

Illinois state lawmakers are trying to ban landlords from using credit histories to judge potential tenants. Doing so could make it harder for low-income tenants to find housing.

TAGS: affordable housing, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly

Illinois lawmakers get chance to boost affordable family housing

By LyLena Estabine

04/08/2025

Illinois House Bill 1814 would legalize more affordable options such as duplexes and townhomes for working families. If the bill passes, it will mark a win for affordability and housing choice.

TAGS: affordable housing

Chicago mayor spends $700K per ‘affordable’ apartment unit

By Patrick Andriesen

12/12/2024

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s first effort at building “affordable” housing is costing nearly $700,000 per unit. Similar units in the same area cost $126,583.

TAGS: affordable housing

‘Inclusionary zoning’ excludes Chicago’s poor from housing

By LyLena Estabine

11/28/2024

They call it “inclusionary zoning,” but in reality the government mandate for a portion of developments to be “affordable” limits supply and drives up costs. Chicago should pull back from this form of rent control.

TAGS: affordable housing, zoning

Government red tape pushes up housing costs for Illinois families

By Ravi Mishra

09/05/2024

Illinois lags other states on approvals for new housing. It has one of the lowest rates for housing approvals in the United States. That drives up costs.

TAGS: affordable housing

Democratic delegates are gone, but hotel housing should stay

By LyLena Estabine

08/23/2024

Clean-up efforts for the Democratic National Convention included putting Chicago’s homeless in hotels used as temporary shelters. Though the celebrity-filled week has ended, this affordable housing approach should be expanded.

TAGS: affordable housing, DNC: Democratic National Convention

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

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Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

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Allan Luzbetak

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students