Lawmakers: Push for affordable housing solutions just beginning

[TexasTowelie]

Lack of affordable housing affects many facets of family life — access to education and health care, for example — for Illinoisans throughout the state, Sen. Mattie Hunter and Rep. Delia Ramirez say.

It’s a truth the Chicago Democrats said they each experienced before their time in office. Each has a background in social service work — Hunter as a community organizer who grew up in public housing and Ramirez as director of a community social service agency.

Illinois’ affordable housing program received $200 million through the state’s first capital plan in 10 years, signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in late June. Other investments totaling about $129 million are included elsewhere in the budget.

And while Hunter and Ramirez said that money will make a “significant difference,” they added it will take $1 billion to properly address the infrastructure need in Illinois.

Read more: https://www.sj-r.com/news/20190728/lawmakers-push-for-affordable-housing-solutions-just-beginning

[Cicada]

1. Change laws so it is legal to build apartments

Here in California it is illegal to build multi family residences. With only a few exceptions because of zoning laws. Representatives from “nice” districts vote against state laws liberalizing local zoning. This causes massive hardships to most people. Housing is insanely expensive. Only a ballot initiative can work.