Working to help provide our region with more affordable housing The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) engages in local planning and policy work to encourage housing development that meets the needs of all our residents. Affordable housing — particularly rental options — are not available in all parts of our seven-county region, which creates a systemic imbalance between job centers and where people live. ON TO 2050, the long-range plan for northeastern Illinois, emphasizes the importance of having a variety of housing options. It recommends housing development strategies located near transit to support access to jobs, education, healthcare, and services. It also anticipates population shifts — like aging and migration — and the different housing needs that accompany these changes. Planning for housing in the region Housing readiness planning Policies and regulations make it difficult to create different types of housing. Through the housing readiness process, CMAP works hand-in-hand with local leaders to identify barriers to housing development and create solutions to remove them. Learn about what CMAP and our partners in Kane County and McHenry County are doing to remove regulatory barriers that limit what types of housing can be built. Housing rehab in the region toolkit Currently, there’s not enough housing being built to meet our region’s needs. Housing rehabilitation can help address the shortage in northeastern Illinois, creating new options for existing structures that are not viable or habitable, but can be improved or repaired and made functional once again. The toolkit includes the role of housing rehabilitation StoryMap as well as a list of recommendations and available resources to help support community housing goals in northeastern Illinois. Housing Lake County Housing and economic vitality are interconnected. CMAP and Lake County — with support from Schreiber Philanthropy — have partnered to advance solutions that address local housing challenges and identify opportunities to increase supply throughout the region. Local Housing Profiles A curated set of housing market data for every county, municipality, and Chicago community area in northeastern Illinois, created by CMAP in collaboration with the DePaul University Institute for Housing Studies. Each profile includes a set of tables that present the latest data on a community’s housing demand, supply, and affordability, along with regional trends for both renters and owners. Additional housing resources More than 70 percent of northeastern Illinois residents expressed concern about the costs and types of housing available. Our region needs expanded housing choice, with good, affordable, and accessible options that connect people to jobs and services. Local municipalities also need to support aging in place, so residents can stay in their homes and communities as they grow older and become a larger share of the population. And an analysis of impediments to fair housing provided recommendations to expanding access to areas of opportunity. On this page Planning for housing in the regionHousing rehab in the region toolkitLocal Housing ProfilesAdditional housing resources Related data and resources Click to read Community Data Snapshots Click to read Community Data Snapshots Click to read Land Use Inventory Regional spotlight Click to read Housing rehabilitation in the region toolkit to help improve existing homes Click to read Housing rehabilitation in the region toolkit to help improve existing homes Click to read Working to build solutions for Lake County’s housing challenges Click to read Kane County housing analysis looks at key factors that will shape the future Click to read Updated Community Data Snapshots include new data on development, demographics, housing, and more Planning News Newsletter sign-up Opens in a modal ON TO 2050 related recommendations Click to read Match regional and local housing supply with types that residents want Community Click to read Support development of compact, walkable communities Community Click to read Target infill, infrastructure, and natural area investments Community Click to read Invest in disinvested areas Community Click to read Leverage the transportation network to promote inclusive growth Mobility