The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and its partners have engaged a number of projects to help area municipalities achieve a balanced and healthy housing stock.
Program Background
The Homes for a Changing Region (Homes) program helps municipalities identify solutions to their most pressing housing challenges, create a balanced mix of housing types, and serve the needs of multiple generations of residents and workers. Over the last 18 years, Homes has helped municipalities endure the housing bubble of the 2000s, the Great Recession and foreclosures of the 2010s, the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020s, and respond to growing affordability challenges.
Homes for a Changing Region is a good fit for any municipality grappling with important housing questions, including:
- Who lives in the community I serve? Are they spending too much on housing?
- Can existing residents afford to stay here in years to come?
- What is my community’s capacity to accommodate future residents?
- Does this development proposal make sense for my community?
Homes provides fast and highly targeted technical assistance through a housing needs assessment, discussion of local stakeholders, panel of housing experts, and a final action plan. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus has received funding for this project from the Chicago Community Trust, the Harris Family Foundation, and the Illinois Housing Development Authority. Through the years, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus has partnered with Metropolis 2020, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the Metropolitan Planning Council, and BRicK Partners to provide the Homes program.
Homes for a Changing Region Communities
Since the inception of Homes, program partners have worked in 70 communities. Previous plans are below.
2024-2026: Oswego, Lincolnshire, Lincolnwood, University Park, Elmhurst, South Elgin, Lindenhurst
2021-2023: Cicero, Fox Lake, Lockport, Park Ridge, Richton Park, Summit, Woodridge
2018-2021: Antioch, Beach Park, Bridgeport/Canaryville, Broadview, Calumet Park, Harvey, Naperville, Oak Forest, Sauk Village, Warrenville
2017: Hanover Park, West Chicago, Glendale Heights, Steger
2016: Hainesville, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Heights, Round Lake Park
2015: Addison, Bensenville, Villa Park, Wood Dale
2014: Batavia, Geneva, North Aurora, St. Charles
Carpentersville, East Dundee, Elgin, West Dundee
2010-2013: Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Rolling Meadows
Bellwood, Berwyn, Forest Park, Maywood, Oak Park
Hazel Crest, Lansing, Olympia Fields, Park Forest
2007-2009: Blue Island, Plainfield, Woodstock
Gurnee, Montgomery, Northlake
Aurora, Libertyville, Oak Forest