News Updates

A model for the region: Housing Lake moves from conversation to commitment

Thank you to our Century Sponsors for supporting the Housing Summit.

Lake County is leading the way in its collaborative approach to housing challenges. Stakeholders from across public, private, nonprofit, and community sectors came together to listen, learn, and build a shared vision for the future of Lake County’s housing.

“When 50+ municipalities, employers, and nonprofit partners come together around a common goal, real progress is possible,” Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart said.

Housing Lake, in partnership with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), developed the  Comprehensive Housing Call to Action that paints a picture of the county’s housing challenges, including regulatory updates needed, financing gaps to address, and opportunities to strengthen communication and deepen partnerships. Importantly, it identifies clear pathways forward through coordinated action.

This roadmap will chart a path for Lake County — and the entire region — as it will inform The Century Plan, a long-term vision for a better, stronger future for all of northeastern Illinois.

“What makes Housing Lake so impactful,” Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham shared, “is the understanding that every partner has a role to play. Not everyone will engage in the same way, and that is our strength.” Most importantly he said, “is that we leave here understanding where we fit, how we contribute, how we stay connected beyond today.”

<iframe title="vimeo-player" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1163862793?h=5944884061" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share"   allowfullscreen></iframe>

The group celebrated this milestone at a Housing Summit and collected commitments to share resources and best practices, support policy improvements, and remain engaged.

CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman was among those who pledged to take action. “We will build on Lake County’s work as we convene voices across government, civic spheres, business, and communities to prioritize what the seven-county region will need to thrive by midcentury — and then commit to taking action,” Aleman said.

An early output of The Century Plan process is the State of the Region report that looks at where the region is today related to key topics that are ripe for regional coordination. Erin Aleman shared these housing-related report findings at the summit:

• The average cost of living in northeastern Illinois increased by 63 percent between 2000 and 2023. While higher incomes grew faster than the cost of living, low-income households have not kept pace, adding to financial strain.
• Rents increased nearly 100 percent in the same period, and home ownership costs increased by 80 percent.
• Today, 75 percent of the jobs in the region that pay a living wage require at least a bachelor’s degree. But only 44% of the working adults in the region have a bachelor’s degree.

Partnerships and collaboration — at the local and regional levels — are essential to addressing complex, shared challenges that cross municipal and county borders. This initiative can be shared and replicated for broader impact.

Brenda O’Connell, Illinois Housing Development Authority Senior Policy Advisor, reflected, “These systems that have created our communities were developed in a different era and now, when we’re thinking about the future that we want together in our communities, we really need to harness our ability to partner, listen, and pave a new way. And, in that way, I think Lake County is really leading the way with this conversation today.”

We are all invited to take an active role in this work. Will you join us in shaping our region’s future — for housing, transportation, climate and more?  Lean more about Housing Lake and engage with The Century Plan.

Top row photos: Left: from left to right: Rob Anthony, President of Community Partners for Affordable Housing; Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering; Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham; CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman; North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr.; Middle: Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham greets Housing Summit attendees; Right: CMAP team poses with Call to Action commitment cards.

Bottom row photos: Left: Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart signs Housing Lake Commitment; Middle: Housing Summit attendees greet each other; Right: Housing Lake Call to Action stickers and swag.

Solving for tomorrow, today

The Century Plan is a shared, overarching vision for northeastern Illinois that will guide policies for transportation, the environment, and the economy for decades into the future.

Throughout 2026 and 2027, CMAP is bringing together regional decision-makers and action-takers from government, civic, business, and community organizations to think big about the challenges and opportunities facing northeastern Illinois. Together, we’ll set a path for systems that support transportation, the economy, and the environment — with priorities defined by the region, for the region. The journey is just beginning, and we invite you to join the ride!