General Assembly passes Comprehensive Housing Planning Act and "Location Matters" bill to help working families find homes they can afford.
There may be little wiggle room in the state's budget in 2006, but housing
advocates continues to pursue policy advances and other program efficiencies to
improve the quality affordable and workforce housing options near jobs and
transportation throughout Illinois.
Most recently, the General Assembly passed the Comprehensive Housing
Planning Act (SB 2290) and the Business Location Efficiency Incentive Act (SB 2885),
aka "Location Matters," and both bills are on their way to the governor for
signature.
MPC's Web article "Recent forums underscore the value of MPC's current housing agenda
in Springfield," provides background on these bills and other ideas to
increase housing options in
Illinois.
Throughout Illinois, working families are among those struggling to find
homes they can afford in desirable communities. More and more business,
municipal and community leaders are seeking tools and policies that support
affordable and workforce housing and the ability of local employees to live near
their jobs. Remind Gov. Blagojevich that these two bills will help those
families, as well as their employers and municipal leaders.
SB 2290
transforms the state's first housing policy,
as created through his executive order in 2003, into a law requiring state
departments such as Human Services, Transportation, Commerce and Economic
Opportunity, and others to work together with the Illinois Housing Development
Authority and municipalities to ensure that all relevant state and local plans
and budgets are coordinated to advance the preservation and creation of
affordable, workforce housing. By passing the Comprehensive Housing Planning
Act, Illinois will continue its momentum to link state spending in key areas
such as economic development, transportation and human services to support
affordable housing.
SB 2885 provides incentives for employers to consider and
invest in housing options for the local workforce. For more information on the
many ways employer investments in housing are already leveraging private sector
investment and leadership, visit www.reachillinois.org . These
incentives truly pay off. The "Location Matters" bill represents
just one example
how the Comprehensive Housing Planning Act would align spending,
in this case related to economic development, to get housing built
or preserved for the people who-- and in the places where
-- it's needed. This bill also allows the Dept. Commerce Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to make
the most efficient use of state resources while investing in workforce
stability – such as employer-assisted or transit programs. DCEO is also able to
apply limited state economic development funds more wisely; reduce commute times
resulting in less traffic congestion air pollution; promote the availability of
workforce housing near jobs; and help businesses build a stable workforce.
To ensure the passage of these milestone bills, and to
let Gov. Blagojevich know his leadership on housing issues is needed more
than ever, MPC is encouraging people to e-mail or
call
the governor, at (217) 782-0244
or (312) 814-2121, to express support for both bills.