ChicagoAreaPoverty,

Income,andHousing
Overview
byHelenEdwardsandAmyTerpstra
MidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance

Fall2007

ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

AboutthisPaper
ThispaperwasoriginallyresearchedfortheAIDSFoundationofChicagoforusein theirFiveYear
ChicagoAreaHIV/AIDSHousingPlan.Hence,thecountiesincludedherearereflectiveofthe
countiestheAIDSFoundationrequestedbeincludedintheanalysis.Thoughtraditionallyincludedin
discussionsoftheChicagoregion,LakeCountyisnotincludedinthisdiscussionoftheChicago
area.Forthepurposesofthispaper,theChicagoareaiscomprisedof eightcounties:
Cook
DeKalb

DuPage
Grundy

Kane
Kendall

McHenry
Will

Theareacoversapproximately 5,000squaremiles.Theregionhasanestimatedpopulationof
7,929,775andencompassesurban,suburban,andruralcommunities.

DataSourceNotes
ThefollowingsectionscontainrelevantdataontheChicago area.Everyindicatorand
correspondingtablecontainsdataoneverygeographyforwhichdataareavailable.
MuchofthedatainthefollowingsectionsarederivedfromtheAmerican
CommunitySurvey(ACS)whichisabletoprovideannual,intercensal,detailed
demographic,poverty,income,andhousingindicatorestimatesforgeographicareas
withpopulationsover65,000.TheonlyChicago areacountythatdoesnotmeetthe
populationthreshold,andthereforedoesnothavedataavailableforit,isGrundy
County.Additionally,onselectindicators,KendallCountydoesnothaveasufficient
populationsize towarrantestimates.
Whenpossible,ChicagonumbersarepresentedinadditiontothewholeCookCounty
numbers,andIllinoisdataareprovidedforcomparison.

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

TableofContents

PopulationDemographics

HousingCharacteristics

14

Homelessness

18

AffordableHousingShortageintheChicagoArea

19

Emergency/TemporaryShelter

24

References

27

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

PopulationDemographics
PopulationBasics
CookCountyishometotwothirdsoftheChicagoareapopulationwithnearly5.3millionpeople,2.8
million ofwhomliveinChicago(seeTable1).DuPageCountyisthesecondlargestcountyinthe
Chicagoareawith932,670people.GrundyCountyisthesmallest,withjustunder46,000people.

Table1:Population1980to2006
Geography

1980

1990

2000

2006

Cook
Chicago
DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy
Kane
Kendall
McHenry
Will

5,253,628
n/a
74,628
658,876
30,582
278,405
37,202
147,897
324,460

5,105,044
2,783,660
77,932
781,689
32,337
317,741
39,413
183,241
357,313

5,376,741
2,896,016
88,969
904,161
37,535
404,119
54,544
260,077
502,266

5,288,655
2,833,321
100,139
932,670
45,828
493,735
88,158
312,373
668,217

TotalinCounties
6,805,678
6,894,710
7,628,412
7,929,775
Source:PopulationDivision,U.S.CensusBureau.(2007,September).AnnualEstimatesofthePopulation.
RetrievedSeptember26,2007,fromhttp://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php

Despitehavingthemostpeople,CookCountyisnotthefastestgrowingcountyintheregion
populationgrowthhaslargelybeendrivenbythecollarcounties(seeTable2).Infact,CookCounty
hasexperiencedverylittlepopulationchangesince1980.Asawhole,theChicagoareahasgrownby
1,124,097people16.5percentsince1980.ThepopulationsinKendall,McHenry,andWillCounties
haveallmorethandoubledsince1980.

Table2:PopulationChange,1980to2006
Geography

Changefrom19802006

Changefrom19902006

Changefrom20002006

Number

Number

Number

Percent

Percent

.Cook
35,027
0.7%
183,611
3.6%
88,086
Chicago
n/a
n/a
49,661
1.8%
62,695
.DeKalb
25,511
34.2%
22,207
28.5%
11,170
.DuPage
273,794
41.6%
150,981
19.3%
28,509
.Grundy
15,246
49.9%
13,491
41.7%
8,293
.Kane
215,330
77.3%
175,994
55.4%
89,616
Kendall
50,956
137.0%
48,745
123.7%
33,614
.McHenry
164,476
111.2%
129,132
70.5%
52,296
.Will
343,757
105.9%
310,904
87.0%
165,951
TotalinCounties
1,124,097
16.5%
1,035,065
15.0%
301,363
Source:PopulationDivision,U.S.CensusBureau.(2007,September).AnnualEstimatesofthePopulation.
RetrievedSeptember26,2007,fromhttp://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php

MidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance

Percent
1.6%
2.2%
12.6%
3.2%
22.1%
22.2%
61.6%
20.1%
33.0%
4.0%

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

Age
Whiletherehasbeenlittlechangeinthepercentoftheseniorpopulationage65andover,the
populationineachcountyisindeedaging(seeTable3).Childrencompriseasmallershareofthetotal
populationin2006thantheydidin2000and1990,andworkingageadultsnowcompriseagreater
shareinmostChicagoareacounties.
Table3:PercentoftheTotalPopulationbyAgeGroup,1990,2000,2006
Geography
Children
(017)
Adults
(18to64)
Seniors
(65+)

Year

Illinois

Cook

DeKalb

DuPage

Grundy

Kane

Kendall

McHenry

1990
25.9%
25.3%
21.5%
26.5%
27.8%
29.9%
30.0%
29.2%
2000
26.1%
26.0%
23.1%
26.7%
26.6%
30.3%
29.5%
30.2%
2006
25.1%
25.7%
21.4%
25.5%
23.7%
29.0%
26.1%
26.9%
1990
61.6%
62.4%
68.3%
64.9%
59.4%
60.8%
61.3%
61.4%
2000
61.8%
62.3%
67.1%
63.4%
61.1%
61.3%
62.0%
61.8%
2006
63.0%
62.6%
69.2%
64.2%
65.5%
62.8%
66.6%
63.9%
1990
12.0%
11.7%
9.4%
10.4%
10.9%
8.1%
8.7%
9.2%
2000
12.1%
11.7%
9.8%
9.8%
12.3%
8.4%
8.5%
8.0%
2006
12.0%
11.7%
9.4%
10.4%
10.9%
8.1%
7.3%
9.2%
Source:PopulationDivision,U.S.CensusBureau.(2007,September).AnnualEstimatesofthePopulation.
RetrievedSeptember26,2007,fromhttp://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php

Will
29.9%
30.0%
27.4%
61.5%
61.7%
64.6%
8.0%
8.3%
8.0%

Disability
862,018peopleintheChicagoareahaveadisability.AllcountiesintheChicagoareahaveadisability
rateof8.9percentorhigher.
Table4:DisabilityStatusofPopulationAge5andOver,2006
Geography
Total
Illinois
11,751,371

WithaDisability
Number
Percent
1,508,500
12.8%

Cook
4,851,067
631,766
13.0%
Chicago
2,510,735
357,289
14.2%
DeKalb
92,923
8,571
9.2%
DuPage
859,492
82,764
9.6%
Grundy
n/a
n/a
n/a
Kane
447,981
39,687
8.9%
Kendall
81,539
7,954
9.8%
McHenry
290,253
28,556
9.8%
Will
615,020
62,720
10.2%
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.

Veterans
TheChicagoareaishometo412,379veterans(seeTable5).Whilethemajorityofveteranslivein
CookCounty,DeKalbhasthehighestpercentageof veteranstotheadultpopulation.Nocountyinthe
Chicagoareahasahigherrateofveteransthanthestateasawhole.
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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

Table5:Veterans,2006
Veterans
Geography

TotalPopulation
18andover

Number

Percent

9,332,854

826,148

8.9%

Illinois

Cook
3,861,232
269,283
7.0%
Chicago
2,027,160
117,133
5.8%
DeKalb
70,963
6,229
8.8%
DuPage
680,021
51,890
7.6%
Grundy
n/a
n/a
n/a
Kane
345,921
24,425
7.1%
Kendall
65,112
5,427
8.3%
McHenry
227,645
19,622
8.6%
Will
480,199
35,503
7.4%
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbythe MidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.

Race&Ethnicity
TheChicagoregionhasgrownincreasinglydiversesince2000(seeTable6).From2000to2006,the
proportionofthepopulationthatisNonHispanicWhitedeclinedfrom57.2percentto54.2percent,
andtheproportionthatisBlackdeclinedfrom20.1percentto19.5percent.PeoplewhoareAsianand
Hispanicmakeupalargershareofthepopulationthantheydidin2000,withthesharethatisAsian
growingfrom4.8percentofthepopulationto5.6percent,andthesharethatisHispanicgrowingfrom
17.4percentto20.2percentofthepopulation.Everycountyintheregionexperiencedsignificant
growthintheHispanicpopulation.

Table6:PercentagesofPopulationbyRace/Ethnicity2000and2006
Non
Hispanic
White
Alone

2000

Illinois
68.2%

Cook
48.2%

DeKalb
85.4%

DuPage
79.0%

Grundy
94.7%

Kane
67.9%

Kendall

89.4%

McHenry
89.7%

Will
77.6%

78.2%
2006
65.3%
44.9%
82.1%
72.9%
89.4%
63.1%
85.2%
70.7%
1.3%
2000
15.3%
26.5%
4.7%
3.1%
0.2%
6.0%
0.6%
10.6%
Black
Alone
4.0%
2006
15.0%
26.3%
5.0%
4.4%
1.4%
5.5%
1.0%
10.7%
0.9%
2000
3.5%
5.0%
2.4%
8.0%
0.3%
1.9%
1.5%
2.3%
Asian
Alone
2.4%
2006
4.2%
5.6%
2.8%
9.9%
0.7%
3.0%
2.6%
3.8%
7.5%
2000
12.3%
19.9%
6.6%
9.0%
4.1%
23.7%
7.5%
8.7%
Hispanic
14.4%
2006
14.7%
22.7%
9.0%
11.9%
7.5%
27.8%
10.5%
13.8%
Source:PopulationDivision,U.S.CensusBureau.(2007,September).AnnualEstimatesofthePopulation.RetrievedSeptember26,
2007,fromhttp://www.census.gov/popest/estimates.php

PopulationProjections
PopulationprojectionsfortheChicagoareaindicatethattheregionisexpectedtogrowby nearly 20
percentbytheyear2030(seeTable7).DeKalb,Kane,McHenry,andWillCountiesareallprojected
tohavehigherratesofpopulationgrowththanthestateofIllinoisasawhole.WillCountyisprojected

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Total

57.2%
54.2%
20.1%
19.5%
4.8%
5.6%
17.4%
20.2%

ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

tobethefastestgrowingcounty,withagrowthrateof63.6percentfrom2006to2030.Cook,DuPage,
Grundy,andKendall areallprojectedtohavelowerratesofpopulationgrowththanIllinoisasa
whole.Intotal,theregionisprojectedtobehometo over1.57million morepeopleby2030.
Table7:2006PopulationEstimatesand2010to2030PopulationProjections

County

2006
Population
Estimate

2010
Population
Projection

Illinois

12,831,970

13,279,091

Cook
DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy
Kane
Kendall
McHenry
Will

5,288,655
100,139
932,670
45,828
493,735
88,158
312,373
668,217

5,472,429
101,735
948,549
41,650
516,914
68,588
337,034
706,639

Total

2015
Population
Projection

2020
Population
Projection

2025
Population
Projection

2030
Population
Projection

13,748,695

14,316,487

14,784,968

15,138,849

2,306,879

18.0%

5,562,950
108,233
958,778
43,839
572,277
73,748
377,315
808,846

5,707,832
114,992
1,010,323
46,454
630,563
78,694
407,931
907,625

5,835,948
120,664
1,026,713
49,176
668,645
83,471
434,286
999,824

5,990,243
124,200
1,034,039
50,414
679,403
85,060
443,398
1,093,207

701,588
24,061
101,369
4,586
185,668
3,098
131,025
424,990

13.3%
24.0%
10.9%
10.0%
37.6%
3.5%
41.9%
63.6%

ProjectedChange
20062030

7,929,775
8,193,538
8,505,986
8,904,414
9,218,727
9,499,964
1,570,189
Source:IllinoisDepartmentofCommerceandEconomicOpportunity.(2005).PopulationProjections.
RetrievedJune25,2007,fromhttp://www.commerce.state.il.us/dceo/Bureaus/Facts_Figures/Population_Projections/

19.8%

Poverty&Income
TheFederalPovertyMeasure
Income poverty is defined by the federal government using food cost as a basis. Each
year,amonetarythresholdcommonlycalledthefederalpovertyline(FPL)isset,and
families as well as the individuals who comprise those families are considered poor if
their family income falls below the threshold for their family size. In 2007,a family of
fourisconsideredpooriftheirgrossannualincomefallsbelow$20,650.Incomepoverty
isalsodiscussedintermsofpercentageoftheFPL.Extremepovertyisdefinedashalfthe
povertyline,or50%FPLlowincomeisdefinedastwicethepovertyline,or200%FPL.

Over956,000peopleliveinpovertyintheChicagoarea.Over434,000 ofthemliveinextreme
poverty.An additional1,145,000individualsintheregionliveabovetheofficialpovertylinebut
belowtwicethepovertyline,meaningtheyhavelowincomesthatoftenmakeitdifficulttomeettheir
basicneeds.
Table8:RatioofIncometoPoverty,2006
Under50%FPL
Geography
Illinois

Under100%FPL

Under200%FPL

Total

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

12,516,453

685,970

5.5%

1,539,033

12.3%

3,467,594

27.7%

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

Cook
Chicago
DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy
Kane
Kendall
McHenry
Will

5,202,550
361,712
7.0%
796,848
15.3%
1,693,376
2,695,826
262,900
9.8%
571,313
21.2%
1,138,087
92,000
7,358
8.0%
13,033
14.2%
24,156
916,441
17,956
2.0%
44,494
4.9%
121,195
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
487,749
19,867
4.1%
40,498
8.3%
106,761
88,043
1,642
1.9%
4,759
5.4%
10,348
310,673
8,613
2.8%
18,034
5.8%
41,397
661,579
18,464
2.8%
38,694
5.8%
103,403
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.

32.5%
42.2%
26.3%
13.2%
n/a
21.9%
11.8%
13.3%
15.6%

Table9:RatioofIncometoPoverty,1999
Under50%FPL
Geography

Under100%FPL

Under200%FPL

Total

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Illinois

12,095,961

619,240

5.1%

1,291,958

10.7%

3,072,723

25.4%

Cook
Chicago
DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy
Kane
Kendall
McHenry
Will

5,285,159
2,839,038
81,025
889,343
37,029
397,285
54,251
258,211
491,997

361,862
6.8%
713,040
13.5%
1,558,780
285,860
10.1%
556,791
19.6%
1,127,692
4,745
5.9%
9,203
11.4%
19,613
16,004
1.8%
32,163
3.6%
95,453
796
2.1%
1,786
4.8%
6,123
11,696
2.9%
26,587
6.7%
75,181
576
1.1%
1,636
3.0%
5,535
4,276
1.7%
9,446
3.7%
30,806
11,804
2.4%
24,225
4.9%
66,919
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2000DecennialCensus,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.

29.5%
39.7%
24.2%
10.7%
16.5%
18.9%
10.2%
11.9%
13.6%

Since1999,povertyratesandtheratesofpeoplewithlowincomeshaverisenineachcounty ofthe
Chicagoarea (seeTables8& 9).Additionally,medianhouseholdincomesfellovertheperiodof1999
to2006(seeTable10).Thisindicatesthatfamilieshavelesspurchasingpowerthantheydid7years
ago, whichisparticularlytroublesomeinlightoftherisingcostofmanyessentialssuchashousingand
healthcare.

Table10:MedianHouseholdIncome,1999and2006
1999

2006

Changefrom
1999to2006

Illinois

$56,376

$52,006

$4,370

Cook
Chicago
DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy

$55,568
$46,738
$55,454
$82,147
$62,583

$50,691
$43,223
$51,055
$73,677
n/a

$4,877
$3,515
$4,399
$8,470
n/a

Geography

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

Kane
$71,818
$63,741
$8,077
Kendall
$78,200
$73,069
$5,131
McHenry
$78,443
$71,945
$6,498
Will
$75,311
$72,816
$2,495
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2000DecennialCensus&2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.
Note:Allamountsarein2006dollars

Unemployment
2006unemploymentratesintheChicagoareaarequitesimilartotheir2000levels(seeTable11).
WiththeexceptionsofCookandGrundyCounties,unemploymentratesaroundtheregionwerelower
thanthestaterateof4.5percent.
Table11:Unemployment,2000and2006
2000
Geography
Illinois

2006

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

290,900

4.5%

297,600

4.5%

Cook
132,027
4.8%
123,623
4.7%
Chicago
75,578
5.5%
68,915
5.2%
DeKalb
1,849
3.6%
2,153
3.9%
DuPage
17,682
3.3%
17,959
3.4%
Grundy
1,108
5.3%
1,235
5.1%
Kane
9,536
4.3%
10,911
4.3%
Kendall
1,065
3.3%
1,828
4.0%
McHenry
5,430
3.6%
6,463
3.7%
Will
11,386
4.1%
14,703
4.3%
Source:IllinoisDepartmentofEmploymentSecurity,LocalAreaUnemploymentStatistics.(n.d.).Annualaveragedata.
RetrievedSeptember26,2007,fromhttp://lmi.ides.state.il.us/laus/lausmenu.htm

Disability
Peoplewithadisabilityaredisproportionatelyrepresentedamongthoseinpoverty(seeTable12).In
manyChicagoareacounties,peoplewithadisabilityaretwiceaslikelytobepoorasthosewithouta
disability.
Table12:PovertyStatusbyDisabilityStatusforNoninstitutionalizedPopulation
Age5andOver,2006
WithaDisability
Geography
Illinois
Cook
Chicago

WithNoDisability

Total
1,500,086

Numberin
Poverty
298,747

Percentin
Poverty
19.9%

Total
10,127,876

Numberin
Poverty
1,071,105

Percentin
Poverty
10.6%

629,088
355,427

143,791
105,083

22.9%
29.6%

4,188,205
2,132,912

565,437
403,842

13.5%
18.9%

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy
Kane
Kendall
McHenry
Will

8,182
82,106
n/a
39,687
7,954
28,436
62,530

1,129
13.8%
77,744
11,516
8,483
10.3%
771,624
30,434
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
5,732
14.4%
406,748
29,459
1,067
13.4%
73,576
3,093
2,837
10.0%
260,932
12,899
7,227
11.6%
550,537
27,295
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.

14.8%
3.9%
n/a
7.2%
4.2%
4.9%
5.0%

Peoplewithadisabilityarelesslikelytoworkthanthosewithoutadisability(seeTable13).Inevery
Chicagoareacounty,overhalfofpeoplewithadisabilityarenotworkingcomparedtolessthana
quarterofthosewithoutadisabilityinmostcounties.
Table13:EmploymentStatusbyDisabilityStatusfortheNoninstitutionalizedPopulation
Ages16to64,2006

Geography
Illinois

Total

Witha
Disability

Witha
Disability,Not
Working

8,341,109

823,851

61.8%

No
Disability

No
Disability,
Not
Working

7,517,258

25.3%

Cook
Chicago
DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy
Kane
Kendall
McHenry
Will

3,439,770
350,022
65.1%
3,089,748
27.9%
1,840,428
209,481
69.0%
1,630,947
29.6%
71,569
4,146
53.5%
67,423
24.8%
622,112
41,687
52.5%
580,425
22.8%
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
322,619
23,528
50.1%
299,091
23.8%
61,108
4,030
59.8%
57,078
19.9%
209,570
14,800
54.7%
194,770
21.9%
449,789
37,806
52.2%
411,983
22.6%
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.

Whenpeoplewithadisabilityareabletowork,theyearnconsiderablylessthantheircounterparts
withoutadisability(seeTable14).Thedifferenceinearningsrangesfromalowof$9,742inDuPage
Countytoahighof$16,323inKendall County.InDeKalbCounty,peoplewith adisability earn only
51centsforeachdollarthatpeoplewithoutadisabilityearn.

Table14:MedianEarningsbyDisabilityStatusforNoninstitutionalizedPopulation
Age16andOverwithEarnings,2006
Geography
Illinois

Witha
Disability
$19,166

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WithNo
Disability
$30,326

Difference
$11,160

p. 10

ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

Cook
$21,088
$31,247
$10,159
Chicago
$20,114
$28,476
$8,362
DeKalb
$11,123
$22,005
$10,882
DuPage
$27,760
$37,502
$9,742
Grundy
n/a
n/a
n/a
Kane
$18,853
$31,250
$12,397
Kendall
$18,937
$35,260
$16,323
McHenry
$21,573
$34,417
$12,844
Will
$19,924
$35,301
$15,377
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.

Language
Nearly829,000householdsintheChicagoareaspeakalanguageotherthanEnglishathomeupfrom
743,000householdsin2000(seeTable15).Cook,DuPage,andKaneCountieshaveahigherrateof
householdsspeakinganotherlanguageathomethanthestateofIllinoisasawhole.
Table15:LanguageOtherthanEnglishSpokenatHome,2000and2006
2000

2006

TotalHouseholdsSpeaking
LanguageOtherthanEnglishat
Home

TotalHouseholdsSpeaking
LanguageOtherthanEnglishat
Home

Total
Households

Number

Percent

Total
Households

Number

Percent

Illinois

4,592,740

902,830

19.7%

4,724,252

1,007,238

21.3%

Cook
Chicago
DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy
Kane
Kendall
McHenry
Will

1,974,408
595,941
30.2%
1,932,197
619,676
1,061,964
361,684
34.1%
1,015,685
344,462
31,669
3,807
12.0%
35,020
4,575
326,011
71,945
22.1%
336,658
95,515
14,300
1,102
7.7%
n/a
n/a
133,733
31,720
23.7%
161,812
43,096
18,789
2,278
12.1%
29,941
5,734
89,377
11,887
13.3%
106,751
18,084
167,602
24,630
14.7%
210,567
42,283
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2000DecennialCensus&2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.

Geography

32.1%
33.9%
13.1%
28.4%
n/a
26.6%
19.2%
16.9%
20.1%

Astheproportionofhouseholdsspeakinganotherlanguageathomegrows,sotoodoestheshareof
linguisticallyisolatedhouseholds(seeTable16).Linguisticisolationreferstoahouseholdinwhichno
memberage14orolderspeaksonlyEnglishorspeaksbothanotherlanguageandEnglishverywell.
Whenahouseholdislinguisticallyisolated,theyfaceahostofbarriers,includingdifficultyin
navigatingthejobandhousingmarkets.

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

Notably,around10percentofallhouseholdsinCookandKaneCountiesarelinguisticallyisolated.In
KaneCountyinparticular,averyhighpercentageofhouseholdsspeakinganotherlanguageathome
arelinguisticallyisolated.
Table16:LinguisticIsolation,2000and2006
2000

2006
Percentof
Percentof
Households
Households
Household
Speaking
Speaking
Percentof sSpeaking Language
Percentof Households Language
Total
Language
Total
Speaking
Otherthan
Otherthan
Households
Households Language
Other
Englishat
Englishat
,
Than
Home,
,
OtherThan
Home,
Total
Total
Linguistical Englishat Linguistical
Linguistical
Englishat
Linguistical
Geography Households lyIsolated
Home
lyIsolated Households lyIsolated
Home
lyIsolated
Illinois

4,592,740

4.7%

902,830

24.0%

4,724,252

5.7%

1,007,238

Cook
Chicago
DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy
Kane
Kendall
McHenry
Will

1,974,408
8.2%
595,941
27.2%
1,932,197
9.6%
619,676
1,061,964
10.2%
361,684
29.8%
1,015,685
10.9%
344,462
31,669
2.0%
3,807
16.5%
35,020
3.0%
4,575
326,011
4.1%
71,945
18.8%
336,658
6.1%
95,515
14,300
0.9%
1,102
11.9%
n/a
n/a
n/a
133,733
7.1%
31,720
30.0%
161,812
10.7%
43,096
18,789
1.1%
2,278
9.2%
29,941
3.4%
5,734
89,377
2.3%
11,887
17.2%
106,751
2.9%
18,084
167,602
2.0%
24,630
13.7%
210,567
3.8%
42,283
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2000DecennialCensus&2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.
Note:Alinguisticallyisolatedhouseholdisoneinwhichnomember14yearsoldandover(1)speaksonlyEnglishor
(2)speaksanonEnglishlanguageandspeaksEnglishverywell.

26.6%
29.8%
32.1%
22.9%
21.5%
n/a
40.0%
17.8%
17.1%
19.2%

ReceiptofSupplementalSecurityIncomeandFoodStamps
SupplementalSecurityIncome(SSI)isthemaingovernmentprogramforpeoplewithdisabilitieswho
havelittleornoincometomeettheirbasicneeds.TensofthousandsofhouseholdsintheChicagoarea
regionreceiveSSI(seeTable17).
Table17:SupplementalSecurityIncomeforHouseholds,2006
Householdswith
SupplementalSecurity
Income(SSI)
Total
Households

Number

Percent

Illinois

4,724,252

153,480

3.2%

Cook
Chicago
DeKalb

1,932,197
1,015,685
35,020

79,004
55,499
643

4.1%
5.5%
1.8%

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

DuPage
336,658
5,232
1.6%
Grundy
n/a
n/a
n/a
Kane
161,812
3,041
1.9%
29,941
649
Kendall
2.2%
McHenry
106,751
1,125
1.1%
Will
210,567
4,589
2.2%
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2000DecennialCensus&2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.

SSIpaymentsarequitelowandinnearlyallChicagoareacounties,asinglepersonrelyingsolelyon
SSIwouldfallbelowthepovertyline(seeTable18).IndividualsandfamiliesrelyingonSSIastheir
onlyormainsourceofincomeoftencannotaffordmarkethousing.

Table18:AverageAnnualHouseholdSupplemental
SecurityIncome(SSI)Payment,2006

Geography
Illinois

Average
Annual
HouseholdSSI
Payment
$7,803

Cook
$7,744
Chicago
$7,586
DeKalb
$7,992
DuPage
$9,033
Grundy
n/a
Kane
$11,064
Kendall
$11,778
McHenry
$9,223
Will
$8,651
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.
Note:Allamountsarein2006dollars

1,031,277 individualsintheChicagoareareceiveFoodStamps.Accordingtoadministrativedata(see
Table19).Selfreportsindicatethat7.6 percentofallhouseholdsintheregionreceiveFoodStamps
(AmericanCommunitySurvey,2006).InIllinois,FoodStampusageincreased57.1percentfrom2000
to2006(IllinoisDepartmentofHumanServices,2007).

Table19:IndividualsReceivingFoodStamps,2006
Geography

Persons

Illinois

1,729,266

Cook
DeKalb

875,546
7,808

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

DuPage
39,934
Grundy
2,401
Kane
45,169
Kendall
4,282
McHenry
10,106
Will
46,031
Source:IllinoisDepartmentofHumanServices,BureauofResearch&Analysis.(2007,June).
CountofpersonsreceivingFoodStampsduringcalendaryear2006. Onfilewithauthor.

HousingCharacteristics
Tenure
MostcountiesintheChicagoareahavehighratesofhomeownership(seeTable20).Kendall County
hasthehighestrateofownershipat87.2 percent.CookandDeKalbcountieshavehomeownership
ratesthatarebelowthestateaverageof69.9percent.Familiesthatrentaremuchmorelikelytobein
povertythanfamiliesthatowntheirownhomes.IneveryChicagoareacounty,renterfamiliesareat
least5.5timesaslikelytobepoorasownerfamilies(AmericanCommunitySurvey,2006).
Table20:HousingTenure,2006

Geography

Total
Occupied
Unites

Owner
Occupied

Renter
Occupied

Illinois

4,724,252

69.9%

30.1%

Cook
1,932,197
61.7%
38.3%
Chicago
1,015,685
49.3%
50.7%
DeKalb
35,020
63.5%
36.5%
DuPage
336,658
76.7%
23.3%
Grundy
n/a
n/a
n/a
Kane
161,812
77.7%
22.3%
29,941
Kendall
87.2%
12.8%
McHenry
106,751
84.1%
15.9%
Will
210,567
85.8%
14.2%
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.

RentalMarket
FairMarketRent
FairMarketRents(FMRs)areusedtodeterminetheeligibilityofrentalhousingunits
forSection8HousingAssistance.Foramoredetailedexplanationoftheirusesand
howtheyarecalculated,seehttp://www.huduser.org/datasets/fmr/fmrover.doc

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

Ananalysisoffairmarketrentsrevealsthatrentsrosebyover4percentinthemajorityof Chicago
areacountiesfrom2000to2007(seeTable21).ThecostofrentalhousinginGrundyCountyroseby
over16.5 percent.Risinghousingcosts,coupledwithstagnatingordecliningincomesandearnings,
resultsinhousingbecomingmoreandmoreunaffordable.
Table21:TwoBedroom,FairMarketRent(FMR),2000and2007
Geography

2000

2007

PercentChange

Illinois

$794

$829

4.4%

Cook
$894
$935
4.6%
DeKalb
$762
$776
1.8%
DuPage
$894
$935
4.6%
Grundy
$693
$807
16.5%
Kane
$894
$935
4.6%
Kendall
$894
$911
4.6%
McHenry
$894
$935
4.6%
Will
$894
$935
4.4%
Source:NationalLowIncomeHousingCoalition.(2006and 1999). Outofreach2006and2001. WashingtonDC:Author,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstitute onPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.
Note:Allamountsarein2007 dollars

Housingcostsareconsideredaffordableiftheyconsumelessthan30percentofahouseholdsincome.
Table22illustrateshowmuchaworkerwouldneedtomakeperhourtobeabletoaffordatwo
bedroomapartmentattheFairMarketRentintheircounty.IntheChicagoarea,mostworkersneedto
earnnearly$18anhourtoaffordthatapartment.AworkerwhogetspaidIllinoisminimumwageof
$7.50anhourwouldneedtowork96hoursaweekinmostChicagoareacountiestobeabletoafforda
twobedroomapartmentattheFairMarketRent.
Table22:RentAffordability,2006
Monthly
2BR
Rent
Wage
Housing
Affordable Neededto Wageasa
atMean
Afford
Percentof
Renter
2BRFMR, ILMinimum
Wage,2006
2006
Wage,2006

WorkHours
perWeekat
ILMin.
Wageto
Afford2BR
FMR,2006

FairMarket
Rent(FMR)
for2BR,
2007

Estimateof
Mean
Renter
Hourly
Wage,2006

Illinois

$829

$13.24

$689

$15.95

213%

85

Cook
DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy
Kane
Kendall
McHenry
Will

$935
$776
$935
$807
$935
$911
$935
$935

$16.05
$8.58
$14.62
$13.82
$10.20
$11.35
$9.88
$9.36

$834
$446
$760
$719
$531
$590
$514
$487

$17.98
$14.92
$17.98
$15.52
$17.98
$17.52
$17.98
$17.98

240%
199%
240%
207%
240%
234%
240%
240%

96
80
96
83
96
93
96
96

Geography

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

Source:NationalLowIncomeHousingCoalition.(2006).Outofreach2006. WashingtonDC:Author,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.

HousingCostBurden
Theoppositeofaffordablehousingishousingcostburden.Householdsarecostburdenedwhenthey
spend30percentormoreoftheirincomeforhousing.IneveryChicagoareageographyforwhichdata
areavailable,therateofcostburdened,renterhouseholdshasincreasedsignificantly.Infourcounties,
Cook,DeKalb,Kane,andMcHenry,overhalfofallrenterhouseholdsarepayingtoomuchoftheir
incometowardrent.Thisleaveslessmoneyforotheressentialssuchasfood,medication,and
transportation.

Table23:RenterHouseholdsPayingOver30PercentoftheirIncomeonRent,
2000and2006
2000

Geography
Illinois

TotalRenter
Households
1,393,383

HouseholdsPaying
Over30%ofIncome
onRent
Number
Percent
525,115
37.7%

2006

TotalRenter
Households
1,327,071

HouseholdsPaying
Over30%ofIncome
onRent
Number
Percent
654,629
49.3%

Cook
785,823
308,441
39.3%
697,087
364,656
Chicago
563,060
225,765
40.1%
484,904
258,745
DeKalb
11,900
5,254
44.2%
12,356
6,562
DuPage
74,084
24,613
33.2%
75,449
31,922
Grundy
3,587
1,031
28.7%
n/a
n/a
Kane
30,477
10,955
35.9%
34,702
17,884
Kendall
2,618
706
27.0%
n/a
n/a
McHenry
13,939
5,192
37.2%
16,243
8,817
Will
26,268
9,024
34.4%
28,720
13,938
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2000DecennialCensus&2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.

52.3%
53.4%
53.1%
42.3%
n/a
51.5%
n/a
54.3%
48.5%

RenterburdenhasgrownineachChicagoareacountyfrom2000to2006(seeGraph 1). Infourofthe

sixcountiesforwhich2006dataareavailable,theratesofrenterhouseholdsexperiencingcostburden
hasgrowntoover50percent.Theothertwocounties,DuPageandWill,havealsoexperienced
significantincreasesonthismeasureandhaveratesbetween40and50percent.

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

Graph1:PercentofRenterHouseholdsPayingOver30%
ofIncomeonRent,2000and2006

60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%

2000

hi
ca
go
C

i ll
W

y
en
r
M
cH

al
l
Ke
nd

e
Ka
n

ru
n

dy

e
G

D
uP
ag

b
eK
al

oo
k
C

Il l
in
o

is

0.0%

2006

Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2000DecennialCensus&2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.

Vacancy
RentalvacancyratesintheChicagoarearangefromalowof5.4percentinKaneCountytoahighof
12.9percentinKendallCounty.AllChicagoarea counties,withtheexceptionofKendall,havelower
vacancyratesthanthestate.
Table24:VacancyRates,2006
Geography Homeowner
Illinois

2.3%

Renter
8.7%

Cook
1.7%
6.9%
Chicago
3.7%
9.6%
DeKalb
2.9%
6.7%
DuPage
1.9%
6.7%
Grundy
n/a
n/a
Kane
1.5%
5.4%
Kendall
0.2%
12.9%
McHenry
1.7%
6.9%
Will
1.3%
8.4%
Source:U.S.CensusBureau, 2006AmericanCommunitySurvey.

Crowding
Nearly90,000householdsintheChicagoareaarecrowded.Ahousingunitisconsideredcrowdedif
thereismorethan1personperroom.Renterhouseholdshavemuchhigherratesofcrowdingthan

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

ownerhouseholds.At7.4percent,KaneCountyhasthehighestcrowdingrateforrenterhouseholds,
whileCookCountyhasthehighestcrowdingrateforownerhouseholdsat2.2percent.

Table25:CrowdingbyTenure,2006
RenterOccupied

OwnerOccupied

Number
Crowded

Percent
Crowded

Number
Crowded

Percent
Crowded

Illinois

67,057

4.7%

46,432

1.4%

Cook

44,623

6.0%

26,213

2.2%

Chicago
31,331
6.1%
14,104
2.8%
DeKalb
525
4.1%
193
0.9%
DuPage
3,930
5.0%
3,363
1.3%
Grundy
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Kane
2,659
7.4%
1,993
1.6%
Kendall
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
McHenry
977
5.7%
942
1.0%
Will
1,754
5.9%
2,449
1.4%
Source:U.S.CensusBureau,2006AmericanCommunitySurvey,
calculationconductedbytheMidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.

Homelessness

AccordingtotheUnitedStatesDepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment
(HUD),ahomelessindividualis:
(1)anindividualwholacksafixed,regular,andadequatenighttime
residenceand
(2)anindividualwhohasaprimarynighttimeresidencethatis
(A)asupervisedpubliclyorprivatelyoperatedshelterdesigned
toprovidetemporarylivingaccommodations(includingwelfare
hotels,congregateshelters,andtransitionalhousingforthe
mentallyill)
(B) aninstitutionthatprovidesatemporaryresidencefor
individualsintendedtobeinstitutionalizedor
(C)apublicorprivateplacenotdesignedfor,orordinarilyused
as,aregularsleepingaccommodationforhumanbeings.
Source:Title42,Chapter119,SubchapterI,Subpart11302,
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode42/usc_sec_42_00011302000.html#FN1

OnJanuary25,2007,between7pmand2am,thePointInTimeCensusoftheHomelesstookplace
nationwide.ThecountismandatedbyHUDtotakeplaceeveryotheryearinJanuary.ThePointIn
Timecountrepresentsthenumberofpeoplehomelessonacoldwinternightanddoesnotrepresentthe
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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

numberofpeoplehomelessduringthecourseofafullyear(ChicagoCoalitionfortheHomeless,
2006).Thecountincludesindividualsthatwerefoundincityfundedemergencysheltersand
transitionalhousing(60percentofthecitystotalshelterbeds)orfoundunshelteredonthedayofthe
count,andthatfitHUDsdefinitionofhomelessness.

Table26:PointInTimeHomelessCount,January25,2007
Continuum

Homeless
Homelessw/HIV/AIDS
Evanston
183
21
SuburbanCook
1,237
24
Chicago
5,979
197
DeKalb
130
0
DuPage
766
20
CentralIllinois(includesGrundy
467
0
andKendall)
Kane
474
32
McHenry
253
2
Will
397
15
Source: ContinuaofCare.(2007). SuperNoFAExhibit1.

Atotalof9,886individualsintheChicagoareawerecountedashomelessinthe2007PointInTime
HomelessCount.Thiswasadecreaseof12percentfromthe2005count.Ofthosecounted,26percent
metthefederaldefinitionofchronichomelessness,anincreasefrom20percentin2005.Also, ofthose
counted,approximately3percentoftheseindividualsreportedthattheywerelivingwithHIV/AIDS.
InDecember2006,theChicagoCoalitionfortheHomelessreleasedareportestimatingthatduring
fiscalyear2006,73,656peoplewerehomelessintheCityofChicago.Theyalsoestimatethatona
typicalnight,21,078peoplearehomelessinChicago,withonly22percentbeingservedbyshelters.
TheCoalitionsnumbersnotonlyincludethenumberofindividualsfoundincityfundedsheltersand
housingasshowninthePointInTimecounts,butalsothoseinthenoncityfundedsheltersand
housing,thenumberofhomelesschildrenreportedbytheChicagoPublicSchools,andcountsfrom
surveyingconductedbytheSurveyResearchLaboratoryoftheUniversityofIllinoisatChicago.

DoubledUp
TheHUDdefinitionofhomelessnessdoesnotincludethosefamiliesorindividualsthataredoubled
up,meaningthattheyarelivingwithrelatives,friends,orothersbecauseofeconomicreasons.The
NationalAlliancetoEndHomelessness(2007)estimatesthatifthedoubledupcategoryisaddedtothe
federaldefinitionofhomeless,anadditional 126,900peopleintheChicagometropolitanregion would
beaddedtotheestimatesofpeoplethatarehomelessonagiven night.

AffordableHousingShortageintheChicagoArea
IllinoisHousingPlanningandAppealsAct
TheIllinoisHousingPlanningandAppealsAct,madelawbytheIllinoislegislaturein2004,callsfor
municipalitieswithlessthan10percentaffordablehousingtoadoptanaffordablehousingplanto
increasethenumberofaffordableunitsintheirjurisdiction.Amunicipalitycanbeexemptfromthe

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Actifgreaterthan10percentofallhousingunitsareaffordablebasedontheActscalculations.A
rentalunitisdeemedaffordableifhouseholdswithlessthan60percentofthemedianhousehold
incomecanaffordit(meaningtheyarenotspendingmorethan30percentoftheirmonthlyincomeon
housingcosts).Anownershipunitisdeemedaffordableifhouseholdswithlessthan80percentofthe
medianincomecanaffordit.
Atotalof30municipalitiesintheChicagoareaarerequiredtoadoptanaffordablehousingplanunder
theAct.SixteenofthesemunicipalitiesareinCookCounty.Kendall,DeKalbandGrundycountiesare
theonlycountiesthatdonothaveamunicipalitythatisaffectedbytheAct.UndertheAct,an
affordablerentintheChicagoareais$775,andanaffordableownershipunitfallsinthe$120,000s.

CondoConversions
Chicagoshousingstocksawdrasticchangeduringthepastdecadeandahalf,withadeclineinthe
numberofrentalapartmentbuildingsandanincreaseinthenumberofcondominiumunits.Between
1989and2004,Chicagoshousingstock sawanincreaseof102,408condominiumunits,alongwitha
decreaseof14,076multiunitrentalapartmentbuildings(Davis&Merriman,April2007).These
buildingsaccountforatleast44,637andperhapsasmanyas97,894rentalapartmentunitsbeinglost
duringthis15yeartimeperiod.CondominiumgrowthwasmostprevalentintheNorthSidelakefront
communities,theWestLoop,andtheNearSouthSide.

PublicHousingAuthorities
ChicagoHousingAuthorityPlanforTransformation
InFebruary2000,HUDapprovedtheChicagoHousingAuthoritys(CHA)PlanforTransformation.
ThePlancallsforthephysicalrenewalof25,000unitsofpublichousing.Theseunitswillconsistof
familyhousingandseniorhousing.ThePlanalsocallsforthedevelopmentofmixedincome
communities,consistingofathirdoftheunitsinadevelopmentreservedforpublichousing,athird
reservedforaffordablehousing,andathirdreservedformarketratehousing.Approximately10CHA
developmentswillberedevelopedintomixedincomecommunities.Theremainingdevelopmentswill
berehabilitatedandwillremainpublichousingsites.
Duringtherehabilitationandredevelopmentofunits,residentsaregiventhechoiceofreceivinga
housingchoicevouchertopayforhousingintheprivaterentalmarket,ortomovetoaunitinanother
publichousingdevelopment.ThroughoutthetimeframeofthePlan,CHAresidentsareabletoreceive
supportiveservicesfromcontractedsocialserviceagenciesthatwillhelpthemtobecomeself
sufficientandremainleasecompliantwiththeCHA.
In2007,theCHAannouncedthatthePlanforTransformationsdeadlineisbeingpushedback6years
to2015.IntheCHAs2007AnnualReportintroductoryletter,CHAciteddwindlingfederalfunds,
increasedconstructionandlaborcosts,andtheincreasedinvolvementofpublicandprivatepartnersas
reasonsforpushingbackthePlanscompletiondate(Sanchez,2006).Nowonlytwomixedincome
developmentswillbefinishedbeforethe original2009deadline.Butmorethan7,800unitsof
replacementpublichousingwillbebuiltby2009,upfromthe6,219unitsreportedinthe2006Plan
report.

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

PublicHousingUnits
InadditiontotheCHA,therearethirteenotherpublichousingauthoritiesintheChicagoarea.Since
2000,publichousingauthoritieshavewitnessedcontinuingdeclinesinfundinglevelsforhousing
assistanceprograms.Thesefundingdeclines,alongwithnewrulesthataffecthowpublichousing
authoritiesoperateandfundtheirprograms,haveresultedinlongwaitinglistsforhousingassistance.
IntheChicagoarea,therearefarmorehouseholdsonwaitinglistsforpublichousingthanthereare
existingpublichousingunits.AttheeightpublichousingauthoritiesintheChicagoarea thatoperate
publichousingunits,thereare21,218morehouseholdsonthewaitingliststhanexistingunits(Mid
AmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance,2007).Amajorityofthehouseholdsonwaiting
listsarelocatedinChicago,wherethewaitinglistforfamilyhousinghasbeenclosedsincethePlan
forTransformationbeganin2000.Thenumberofpublichousingunitswilldecreasefurtherasthe
Planprogressessincefarfewerpublichousingunitswillbebuilttoreplacethose thathavebeen
demolished.TheElginHousingAuthoritysawthelargestwaitinglistincreaseintheChicagoarea.

Table27:PublicHousingAvailabilityintheChicagoArea
Housing
Authority

Total#of
Public
Housing
Units

%
Change

Public
Housing
Waiting
List

%
Change

Status

Year
Previous
report

Year
Current
report

Aurora
656
0.00%
395
17.91%
Closed
2003
2006
Chicago
28,016
11.16%
42,281
24.38%
Closed
2003
2005
CookCounty
2,082
4.32%
9,008
19.18%
Closed
2003
2006
DeKalbCounty
280
0.36%
337
3.99%
Open
2003
2005
Elgin
255
0.00%
988
116.67%
Open
2003
2006
Joliet
1,131
2.91%
306
61.22%
Open
2003
2006
McHenry
County
23
0.00%
29
27.50%
Open
2003
2006
OakPark
198
0.00%
515
75.77%
Open
2003
2005
Source:MidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.(2007). Notevenaplaceinline2007:
Publichousing&housingchoicevouchercapacityandwaitinglistsinIllinois.Chicago:Author.

HousingChoiceVouchers
Housingchoicevouchersprovidedirectrentalassistancetorenterhouseholdstoenablethemtofind
theirownhousingintheprivatehousingmarket.Theamountofthevoucherisbasedontherentand
utilitycostsoftheunit,thefamilysannualadjustedincome,andapaymentstandardsetbythelocal
publichousingauthoritybasedonthelocalFairMarketRent.
MostofthepublichousingauthoritiesintheChicagoarea thatofferhousingchoicevouchershave
closedwaitinglists(MidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance,2007).Thefactthatso
manyhousingchoicevoucherwaitinglistsareclosedforlongperiodssuggeststhatactualdemandfor
voucherassistanceismuchhigherthanwaitinglistnumbersindicate.Italsoshowsthattheturnover
rateforvouchersisverylow,withveryfewhouseholdsonthewaitinglistactuallyreceivingvouchers.

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

TheChicagoHousingAuthorityhadahugeincreaseinhousingchoicevouchers,butthesevouchers
areconversionvouchersusedtocompensateforthelossofpublichousingunitsasthePlanfor
Transformationprogresses.
Table28:HousingChoiceVoucherAvailabilityintheChicagoArea
Housing
Authority

Total#of
HCVs

%Change

HCV
Waiting
List

%Change

Status

Year
Previous
report

Year
Current
Report

Aurora
800
0.00%
520
59.72%
Closed
2003
2006
Chicago
47,402
39.13%
9,752
58.14%
Closed
2003
2005
Cicero
230
0.00%
Closed
2000
2006
Cook
County
12,315
6.68%
9,008
Closed
2003
2006
DeKalb
County
539
0.00%
834
Closed
2003
2005
DuPage
County
2,571
1.34%
1,796
53.89%
Open
2002
2005
Elgin
913
0.00%
1,710
263.83%
Closed
2003
2006
Joliet
1,039
0.00%
424
37.92%
Open
2000
2005
Kendall
160
0.00%
51
80.23%
Closed
2000
2005
Maywood
448
0.00%
230
48.89%
Closed
2003
2006
McHenry
County
947
9.23%
2,143
48.20%
Open
2003
2006
OakPark
428
0.23%
785
35.55%
Closed
2003
2005
Park
Forest
177
0.00%
98
56.83%
Closed
2000
2005
Source:MidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance.(2007). Notevenaplaceinline2007:
Publichousing&housingchoicevouchercapacityandwaitinglistsinIllinois.Chicago:Author.

OtherSubsidizedHousingPrograms
ProjectBasedSection8
TheprojectbasedSection8programisafederallyfundedprogram thatmakesrentalunitsaffordable
tolowincomefamiliesandindividualbyprovidingamortgageand/orrentalsubsidy.Thesubsidy
stayswiththeunitratherthanwiththeindividualorfamily.Thefederalgovernmenthasnotfunded
anynewSection8projectsinyears,andcurrentlandlordsarenotrequiredtostayintheprogram.With
thehighcostofhousing,manylandlordsareexploringothermoreprofitableoptionsfortheir
buildings.
IntheChicagoarea,40,562subsidizedunits,or91.2percentofallcontractedunits,areduetoexpire
before2010.AmajorityoftheseunitsareinChicago,whichstandstolosealmost90percentofits
subsidizedunitsby2010.Thecollarcountiesareateven greater riskthanCookCounty oflosingmost
oftheirsubsidizedunits.DeKalb,Kendall,andMcHenryCountiesareatriskoflosingalloftheir
subsidizedunitsby2010.

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

Table29:ProjectBasedSection8AvailabilityintheChicagoArea,April2005
Area
Illinois
Cook
Chicago
DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy
Kane
Kendall
McHenry
Will

TotalUnits
73,893
36,961
31,518
940
2,760
0
2,004
138
596
1,060

%UnitstoExpireby2010
89.88%
89.81%
89.94%
100.00%
99.57%
0.00%
98.75%
100.0%
100.00%
91.13%

Source:ChicagoRehabNetwork. (2005,April).Factbook:Section8,allyearsbyIllinoiscounty.RetrievedNovember20,2007,from
http://www.chicagorehab.org/crn/factbook/new/data_update1.aspx

Section202
HUDsSection202SupportiveHousingfortheElderlyprogramprovideshousingassistanceand
supportiveservicesforseniorcitizens.Fundsfromthisprogramprovidecapitalandoperatingdollars
tononprofitorganizationstodevelopandoperateseniorhousing.Toqualifyforaunitunderthis
program,tenantsmustbeatleast62yearsofageandhaveincomelessthan50percentof thearea
medianincome(AMI).
ThefederalgovernmentsFY2008proposedbudgetcuttheSection202programby$160million.
Thislowerproposedfundinglevelwouldonlyprovideapproximately 2,700unitsofseniorhousingin
fiscalyear2008.TheAmericanAssociationforHomesandSupportiveServicesfortheAging(2006)
estimatesthat10,000unitsof newseniorhousingisneededannuallytokeepupwithincreasing
demand.

Section811
HUDsSection811SupportiveHousingforPersonswithDisabilitiesprogramprovidesfundingto
nonprofitorganizationstodevelopandoperatesupportivehousingforlowincomeindividualswith
disabilities,whichincludementalillness,physicaldisabilities,anddevelopmentaldisabilities.To
qualifyforaunitunderthisprogram,thetenantmustbe18yearsofageorolder,andhaveanincome
below50percentof theAMI.
ThefederalgovernmentsFY2008proposedbudgetcutstheSection811programby$115million,a
50percentfundingdecrease.

AccessibleHousing
In2006,itisestimatedthattheChicagoarea(excludingGrundyCounty)had40,244accessibleor
adaptableunitsforindividualslivingwithadisability (IllinoisAssistedHousingActionResearch
Project,2007).AmajorityoftheseunitsarelocatedinCookCounty,andamajorityoftheseunitsare
onlyadaptableunitsnotaccessibleunits.AccordingtotheIllinoisHousingDevelopmentAuthority
(IHDA),adaptableunitsarehousingunitsthatcanbemodifiedsothattheyareaccessiblefora

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

disabledtenant.Thisisclearlynotenoughunitstomeetthedemandforaffordableandaccessible
housingthatisneededbythe170,266disabledindividualslivinginpovertyintheChicagoarea.

Table30:EstimatedNumberofAffordableAccessible/AdaptableUnits,2006
County

Cook
DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy
Kane
Kendall
McHenry
Will

IHDAIncome
RestrictedUnits
91,954
1,845
5,675
n/a
4,725
420
1,481
4,489

Estimated
Accessible
Units
7,098
122
401
n/a
307
58
90
244

Estimated
AdaptableUnits
25,900
421
1,866
n/a
1,954
154
329
1,300

EstimatedTotal
Accessibleor
AdaptableUnits
32,998
543
2,267
n/a
2,261
212
419
1,544

Source:IllinoisAssistedHousingActionResearchProject.(2007,April).Locatingaffordableandaccessiblehousingfor
peoplewithdisabilitiesinIllinois.Chicago:Author.

TheChicagoDepartmentofHousingreportsanadditional1,999unitsofadaptableoraccessible
housinginChicagothatdonotreceiveIHDAfunding(IllinoisAssistedHousingActionResearch
Project,2007).Butthereareinconsistenciesbetweenthetwoagencieswhendefiningaccessibleunits
andadaptableunits.Itisalsobelievedthatsomesubsidizedpropertieswithaccessibleandadaptable
unitsarenotlistedinIHDAsdatabase,makingitharderforpeoplewhoneedtheseunitstofindthem.

Emergency/TemporaryShelter
Emergencyshelter
ChicagoTenYearPlantoEndHomelessnessadoptsaHousingFirstmodel.ThePlancallsfora
transitionfromashelterbasedsystemthatprovidestemporaryhousingtoahousingbasedsystemthat
providespermanenthousing.UnderthePlan,ahomelessfamilyorindividual will notbemovedintoa
shelterwhenseekinghousing,butwillbemovedintoapermanenthousingunit.TheCitysgoalisto
increasethenumberofinterimandpermanenthousingunitstofacilitatetheHousingFirstmodel,and
decreasethenumberofemergencyshelterbedsasthepermanentunitscomeonline.Chicagos
homelesssystem inventory iscurrentlymadeupof52percentpermanenthousing,27percent
temporaryshelter,and21percentinterimhousing(MayorsPressOffice,2007,August9).
Currentlythereare2,943emergencyshelterbedsintheChicagoarea.Overaquarterofthesebedsare
reservedforfamilies.AlmosttwothirdsoftheemergencyshelterbedsintheChicagoareaareinthe
CityofChicago.However,Chicagohasseenadecreaseof594emergencyshelterbedssince2005
(ChicagoDepartmentofHousing,2006).

Table31:EmergencyShelterBedsintheChicagoArea,2007
Continuum
Evanston
SuburbanCook*
Chicago

ESBedsIndividuals
8
101
1,510

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ESBedsFamilies
24
125
413

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy
Kane
Kendall
McHenry
Will

24
0
165
63
0
0
240
85
0
0
12
15
128
30
Source: ContinuaofCare.(2007). SuperNoFAExhibit1.

Transitionalhousing
Transitionalhousingisaffordablehousingthatistimelimited,meaningthefamilyorindividualcan
onlylivethereforacertain periodoftime.Duringtheirstayintransitionalhousing,anindividualor
familycanreceivesupportiveservicesthatwill ready them tomoveintoapermanenthousingunit.In
theChicagoarea,thereare6,384transitionalhousingbeds,withtwothirdsofthesebedsbeing
reservedforfamilies.CookCountyistheonlycountyintheChicagoareawithtransitionalhousing
targetedtowardindividualslivingwithHIV/AIDS.
Table32:TransitionalHousingBedsintheChicagoArea,2007
Continuum
Evanston
SuburbanCook*
Chicago
DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy
Kane
Kendall
McHenry
Will

THBedsIndividuals

THBedsFamilies

HIVTargeted

36
37
174
535
1,353
3,026
2
39
128
445
0
0
59
87
0
0
85
67
42
105
Source: ContinuaofCare.(2007). SuperNoFAExhibit1.

0
8
146
0
0
0
0
0
0
10

PermanentSupportiveHousing
Permanentsupportivehousingisaffordablehousingthatisnottimelimitedandislinkedwith
supportivecasemanagementservicesthatenableresidentstoremainhoused.Residentsgenerallyare
requiredtopaynomorethanathirdoftheirincomeforthehousing.Supportivehousingproviders
providecasemanagement,whichincludeslifeskillstrainingandlinkagestootherneededservices
suchasphysicalandmental healthservices,substanceabusetreatmentandsupport,andemployment
services.
In2006,therewere7,489unitsofpermanentsupportivehousingintheChicagoarea.Mostofthese
unitsarelocatedinChicago.CookCountyisalsohometopermanentsupportivehousingprojects
targetedspecificallytowardindividualslivingwithHIV/AIDS.NinedifferentprovidersinCook
Countyprovidepermanentsupportivehousingtargetedtothispopulation.
Table33:PermanentSupportiveHousing(PSH)BedsintheChicagoArea,2007
Continuum

PSHBeds

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PSHBedsFamilies

HIVTargetedPSH

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

Individuals
Evanston
SuburbanCook*
Chicago
DeKalb
DuPage
Grundy
Kane
Kendall
McHenry
Will

37
0
88
93
4,228
2,282
59
0
83
170
0
0
72
0
0
0
32
0
183
162
Source: ContinuaofCare.(2007). SuperNoFAExhibit1.

MidAmericaInstituteonPovertyofHeartlandAlliance

Beds
0
32
539
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

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ChicagoAreaPoverty,Income,andHousingOverview

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