MPC has been appointed to a task force to transform new policy into meaningful change at the state and local level.
Highlighting the importance of housing issues in
Illinois, Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office issued a press release about his signing
of an executive order on Sept. 16, 2003. This landmark document incorporates key recommendations made by his
Transition Team,
as well as findings from the affordable housing hearings
sponsored by Ill. Rep. Julie Hamos
(D-Evanston), Chair of the Illinois House Housing and Urban Development
Committee.
Specifically, the Executive Order creates a
housing task force to formalize a policy
that prioritizes the housing needs of underserved constituencies,
including: seniors, low income workers who cannot afford to live near their
jobs, homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless, people with disabilities and
households currently living in affordable housing but at-risk of losing their
homes.
The Executive Order further requires all the State agencies currently
investing in housing (there are many, including the Illinois Housing
Development Authority, Department of Human Services and Department of Aging) to link resources
for joint outreach. This proactive approach enables the State to
more efficiently seek and fund proposals consistent with this housing
policy, and directly addresses Illinois' need and ability to leverage resources
from the private sector and federal sources.
A very exciting component of the Executive Order is its
commitment to explore incentives to municipalities to address the housing needs of
people who live and work in their jurisdiction.
Clearly, the governor's
leadership on this issue forwards a comprehensive housing agenda,
including such MPC priorities as: creating incentives for businesses and municipal leaders to invest in housing solutions and
introducing tools to promote regional coordination and best practices around affordable, public
and mixed-income housing
.
Earlier this year, the governor also signed into law two bills that, together with
the Executive Order, represent a "sea change" in the local and state housing arenas. The Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act serves as the
proverbial "stick" to balance the above "carrots." This bill requires
municipalities with more than 1,000 people that do not have affordable housing
for at least 10 percent of their residents to create a plan to ensure that they
do. The bill further creates a State Appeal Board so that, down the road, if
developers feel the city is unfairly denying affordable housing proposals, the
State has the power to review and change the municipality's ruling. The Housing Opportunity Tax Incentive provides a tax incentive
to property owners who rent to families using Housing Choice Vouchers in low
poverty areas with and a high tax base.