To help fuel economic growth, Lake County and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), with support from Schreiber Philanthropy, are teaming up to expand affordable and accessible housing in Illinois’ third most populous county.

Schreiber Philanthropy, a charitable organization committed to supporting well-being and economic mobility in Chicagoland, awarded CMAP a grant to identify a menu of housing solutions to address the need for affordable housing in Lake County.

Through a 12-month technical assistance process, CMAP, in partnership with Lake County, will convene a Housing Task Force comprising of municipalities across the county. The Task Force will evaluate tools and resources to address housing challenges, culminating in a step-by-step Housing Ready toolkit. The goal of this initiative is to increase the supply of affordable housing through actionable, municipality-specific solutions.

Additionally, a key piece of this effort will be engaging stakeholders to identify obstacles, opportunities and necessary resources. This coalition will host a housing summit next year to generate momentum and build community support.

“While we continue to advocate for housing support at the state and federal level in an environment of funding uncertainty, tackling the housing crisis at the local level in Lake County requires a multi-pronged approach involving a team effort,” said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. “The high costs of construction, land use regulations and other impediments are restricting our local housing supply. Local government, development and real estate professionals, the workforce system, non-profits, financial institutions and other key stakeholders all have a role to play in reducing these barriers to housing production. The coalition is bringing us together to develop long-term strategies to meet this urgent crisis.”

A  2023 Lake County study showed that in order to attract and retain residents and businesses, the county must have a diverse housing stock that provides options for households at different life stages, ages, incomes and sizes. The lack of housing also limits the county’s ability to attract and retain workers.

Northeastern Illinois’ comprehensive plan, ON TO 2050, also emphasizes the importance of having a variety of housing options to maintain a thriving and inclusive region. It recommends housing development strategies located near transit to support access to jobs, education, healthcare and services.

“We know that affordable and accessible housing — in close proximity to jobs, transportation and other amenities — make for a strong, thriving and resilient region,” said CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman. “We are excited to partner with Lake County on this important work and plan to build on this framework and bring housing solutions to other parts of the region.”

To achieve its mission of supporting economic mobility and well-being, Schreiber Philanthropy is committed to building better options for safe and affordable housing opportunities, especially for people who have been historically denied access, to create more vibrant and inclusive communities.

“To sustain its regional economic competitiveness, Lake County needs 7,900 affordable housing units. This presents a real challenge in today’s economy, where construction costs are at an all-time high and continue to rise. Increasing the supply of units will require a coordinated, partnership-driven approach with innovative solutions to scale housing,” said Schreiber Philanthropy’s Housing Portfolio Manager Ricardo Lopez. “This grant is a key step in Schreiber Philanthropy’s commitment to helping Lake County’s municipalities achieve that goal.”