Planning, Building & Development | Page 144

Recommended Actions for Impediment 16  The County can work with the Housing Action Coalition and technical assistance providers (to be identified) to develop a tool kit that can assist Lake County municipalities in developing a strategic or tactical response to the State of Illinois Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act. Such a tool kit could include 1) how to partner with a community land trust, 2) how to establish an affordable housing trust fund, 3) how to apply for County funding to assist in the creation of infrastructure and housing for low-income residents, and 4) how to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement to fulfill responsibilities under the act.  Municipalities should review their zoning and land-use plans to identify any amendments needed to support the preservation and expansion of affordable housing in high-opportunity areas. PUBLIC–PRIVATE SECTOR IMPEDIMENTS Impediment 17. “Fair housing” and “affordable housing” may often be used interchangeably by individuals in the private and public sector. Individuals, organizations, and municipalities often associate providing affordable housing with affirmatively furthering fair housing. Consequently, the solutions proposed for fair housing then end up focused on the lower-income populations within the protected classes rather than on the totality of the protected classes. Organizations may also assume that they are affirmatively furthering fair housing simply by providing affordable housing independent of the housing’s location or services offered. The association between fair housing and affordable housing may occur, in part, because entities wishing to provide assistance, with limited resources, must focus their resources on those most in need. This naturally leads to focusing on lower-income individuals and households that experience fewer housing options, independent of discrimination. Recommendations for Impediment 17  Conduct extensive education and outreach. The confusion between fair housing and affordable housing will be mitigated by conducting extensive consumer, government, and private sector education and outreach as described throughout this document. Impediment 18. Protected classes may not have equal access to housing opportunities. Housing choice is limited for protected classes in part because racism and prejudice still exist, individuals are stereotyped based upon various socioeconomic characteristics, and there is a fear of people who are dissimilar living in areas that have been largely homogenous. The consequence is that individuals and households self-segregate by locating in communities with others who are of the same racial or ethnic background. APPLIED REAL ESTATE ANALYSIS, INC. 142 LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS