Across Illinois and the nation, housing affordability has become one of the defining issues of the past several years. With clear connections to workforce development, access to healthcare and social services, individual opportunity and more, the cost and availability of our housing shapes nearly every aspect of our shared future. Because when housing is out of reach, we see opportunities become limited for families, businesses, and entire communities. But when our housing is affordable, our neighbors, partners, and community leaders can build something together that we can all be proud of.

This idea of Building Together has shaped the work of the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) in 2024 and 2025 as we worked with our residents and partners to use better housing as a platform for broader individual and community goals. Over the past two years, IHDA delivered $92.1 million in down payment assistance to bring homeownership within reach for 10,140 Illinois homebuyers, giving them the freedom to pursue their next personal or professional milestones. On the multifamily side of our business, IHDA awarded $1.4 billion in state, federal, and leveraged financing to build or preserve 5,468 affordable rental homes and apartments across 90 developments, creating anchors around which ongoing economic development efforts will grow. To support Illinois renters, IHDA delivered $118.7 million in direct emergency rental assistance to help 14,760 families avoid eviction. And through IHDA’s community revitalization initiatives, we awarded $44 million in grant funding to support the vitality of towns and neighborhoods across the state, while also giving local leaders the tools they need to position their communities for future growth and investments.