Take Action: Expand Affordable Housing in Illinois
4/16/26
Let’s bring more affordable housing to Illinois! Some 30% of Illinois residents are housing cost-burdened, a burden that forces them to make decisions between having decent shelter and being able to purchase health insurance, pay off student debt, or start a family.
For far too long, many local governments have prioritized protecting the home values of those wealthy enough own a home, often at the expense of others who live and work in their communities. The Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act (AHPAA) is Illinois’ only law focused on expanding affordable housing in the state’s most expensive communities. After 20 years, the 44 communities currently subject to the law have developed dozens of community-driven affordable housing plans and added hundreds of affordable homes. But this is only 3.5% of municipalities in Illinois. Now is the time to bring in the next wave of municipalities to help build more affordable homes faster.
Strengthening the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act (HB5198) would enhance the AHPAA to increase its enforceability, improve the appeals process by making local governments accountable to denials of affordable housing projects, increase the affordable housing threshold from 10% to 25%, and create standards for what a housing compliance plan must include.
This bill has successfully passed the Illinois House and is now being considered in the Illinois Senate. Call or email your Illinois state senator and ask them to support this bill.
Use Our Sample Scripts to Contact Your State Senator
LETTER
Dear Senator _____________
I am writing to ask for your support for HB5198 to improve the supply of affordable housing in all communities in Illinois.
Some 30% of Illinois residents are housing cost-burdened, a burden that forces them to make decisions between having decent shelter and being able to purchase health insurance, pay off student debt, or start a family. A stable home in a safe community with good schools near work is the cornerstone of Illinois residents’ becoming productive and having opportunity to realize their potential. Whether disabled, aged, or simply desiring financial independence, a stable home means everything.
For far too long, many local governments have prioritized protecting the home values of those wealthy enough own a home, often at the expense of others who live and work in their communities. HB5198 will promote creating a balance between those two priorities.
HB5198 amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act by expanding IHDA's rulemaking authority, creating detailed standards for what must be included in a municipal government housing plan, and improving the appeals process when affordable housing projects are denied.
I urge you to support HB5198 and to consider being a sponsor of the bill.
Thank you.
PHONE CALL
I am calling to ask for your support for HB5198 to improve the supply of affordable housing in all communities in Illinois.
Some 30% of Illinois residents are housing cost-burdened. I hope you also consider this to be an unacceptable statistic that deserves attention and must be resolved.
HB5198 amends the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act by expanding IHDA's rulemaking authority, creating detailed standards for what must be included in a municipal government housing plan, and improving the appeals process when affordable housing projects are denied.
I urge you to support HB5198 and to consider being a sponsor of the bill.
Thank you.
Sign up to get our Action Alerts on your phone!
Use the League in Action app to take action on issues impacting Illinois communities—here’s how to sign up:
Download the app on your cell phone (available via the App Store and Google Play)
Sign in with your Google or Facebook account, or create an account with your email
Search for the League of Women Voters Illinois on the app and click the Join button
Scroll through the feed to see all of the ways you can support LWV's efforts
