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