April 20, 2024
Action Ridge members Nan Parson and Kristin Berg joined the Palatine area League of Women Voters via Zoom on October 13, 2021 to share the grass roots efforts Action Ridge has engaged in to address obstacles to securing affordable housing, including data gathering, meeting with local officials, and influencing community members in Park Ridge. A recap of the program with links to additional information follow.
Housing Matters: The Importance of Stable, Affordable Housing for Communities and What You Can Do
The lack of decent, stable housing has been shown to have a negative impact on physical and mental health, ability to learn, relationships, security, and funds available for basic needs like food, medication and clothing. In short, it hurts families and limits their opportunities to improve their personal and economic situations. Many would be surprised to learn how many people in our own backyards are facing housing insecurity. This event will help you understand what is being done in neighboring communities to promote better access to decent housing.
Moderator: Kathy Cortez, LWV Palatine Area Member, LWV Illinois Affordable Housing Issues Specialist, and Director at Housing Opportunity Development Corporation (HODC). Kathy will set the stage for the evening’s discussion by defining the housing problem and creating a common language for talking about housing. She will also do a brief overview of the impact of affordable housing stock in our local communities.
Panelists:
Kristin Berg and Nan Parson will discuss the grass roots efforts Action Ridge has engaged in to address obstacles to securing affordable housing, including data gathering, meeting with local officials, and influencing community members in Park Ridge. Kristin Berg is LWV Park Ridge member, Board President of Housing Opportunity Development Corporation and Housing Advocate with Action Ridge. Nan Parson is a founding member of Action Ridge in ParkRidge and a LWV Park Ridge member.
Amy Rosenfeld Kaufman, Director of Development and Community Relations at Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH). Amy will introduce CPAH and its role in securing the stock of affordable housing in Lake County and surrounding towns. In particular, Amy will explain Housing/Land Trusts and how they can be used to improve the opportunity for affordable homeownership across their service area.
ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL. Many of the resources below provide information about housing plans, causes, and implications for local communities and IL as a whole. Read/watch the following in conjunction with the presentation to learn more about affordable housing in general and to understand your community’s plans to increase and preserve housing in your area.
LWVIL Issues Briefing on Housing 2021 – Experts explore the root causes of inadequate housing, racial implication for housing fairness, and the negative impact of housing insecurity on families.
Village of Palatine Consolidated Action Plan 2021-2024 See pages 18-20 forhousing data and plan
Village of Schaumburg Consolidated Action Plan 2021-2024 See pages 39-41 for housing data and plan
Rolling Meadows Comprehensive Plan 2018 See page 20 for housing data and plan
Barrington Comprehensive Plan 2020 See page 27 for housing data and plan
Hoffman Estates Comprehensive Plan See page 4 for housing data and plan
Cook County Clerk Lunch and Learn: Housing Matters with Commissioner Britton