Support HB 626: The Rental Housing Support Program

Dear Representative,

HB 626, the Rental Housing Support Program, is a critical piece of legislation that is getting caught up in a typical debate in Illinois politics about Chicago vs. the rest of the state. Worse, the argument is fueled by false information.

The bill would create a state-funded rental assistance program which would make rent affordable to very low-income families. A dedicated state fund would be created to provide grants to local agencies throughout the state to create local rental assistance programs. Recipients of the grants would provide subsidies directly to landlords, who in turn would charge affordable rents to low-income tenants. The program is funded through an $10 charge on real-estate filings.

Critics of the legislation have repeatedly said that the program will not truly reach statewide and that most of the resources will go to Chicago. In fact, the legislation requires that funds be distributed statewide. According to the distribution in the legislation, 70% of all units subsidized under the program will be outside of Chicago.

Illinois needs the Rental Housing Support Program. 1.04 million households in Illinois, more than one-quarter of all households, are cost-burdened because they spend 30 percent or more of their income on housing. The Housing Wage in Illinois is $15.44. This is the amount a full time worker must earn per hour in order to afford a two-bedroom unit at the state’s average market rent.

This resource is greatly needed in our area and I urge your to vote in favor of HB 626 in the remaining days of the 93rd General Assembly session.

Sincerely,

Your name and address here