FINAL HOUSING REPORT
FROM THE 2003 SPRING LEGISLATIVE SESSION
October 2003

by Rep. Julie Hamos, Chair, Housing & Urban Development Committee


Thank you to all of you who have remained interested and involved in a yearlong effort to make affordable housing a greater priority for the legislature, the Governor and Illinois state government. This is a summary of our final action. Please contact the Governor’s Office to voice your support for these measures.


Executive Order # 18: Illinois Housing Initiative
Based on HB 2345 - chief sponsors: Rep. Julie Hamos, Sen. Jeff Schoenberg
Executive Order # 18 will create the Illinois Housing Initiative (IHI), a five-year plan to spur more construction and rehab of affordable housing for our State’s most underserved populations -- such as very low-income families and people with disabilities. An interagency task force will develop an annual comprehensive housing plan, and report annually on progress being made to achieve the plan. The IHI will pool a portion of available federal and state resources and streamline the application process.


Public Act 93-0595: Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act
Chief sponsors: Rep. Ricca Slone, Sen. Iris Martinez
This legislation creates the Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act to encourage municipalities to incorporate affordable housing within their housing stock sufficient to meet the needs of their community. As amended, (formerly called the Builders’ Appeal Act, HB 220), the bill now relates only to municipalities with less than 10% affordable housing – about 120 municipalities. By July 2004, these municipalities must adopt an affordable housing plan. After January 2009, if an application to develop affordable housing is denied by such a municipality, a State Housing Appeals Board would have the power to review and change the municipality’s ruling.


Public Act 93-0316: Housing Opportunity Area Abatement Program
Chief sponsors: Rep Carolyn Krause, Sen. Bill Peterson
This legislation will provide a property tax incentive in order to encourage landlords to accept Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly Section 8) in areas of high job growth and low poverty. The owner of property located within a “housing opportunity area” (a census tract with less than 10% of residents living below the poverty level) who has a housing choice voucher contract with a housing authority may apply annually for a property tax abatement for a certain number of qualified units.


SMALL BUT NEEDED BUDGET INCREASES FOR HOUSING.
The legislature added $3.5 million to provide necessary on-site social services in about 1,100 units of supportive housing and housing for persons with mental illness, ready to open their doors this coming year. Unfortunately, the Governor vetoed $1.75 million of this amount.

Funding for homelessness prevention was increased to $5 million – substantially more than last year. This is an extremely successful program that provides small grants to help people with short-term emergencies stay in their homes.

The legislature also funded the Prevention of Unnecessary Institutionalization Act, providing $1.5 million in grants for assistive technology and home modifications for people with disabilities.


LEGISLATION THAT FAILED – BUT ONLY A TEMPORARY SETBACK.
SB 591: Federally Subsidized Housing Preservation Act
Status: Passed the Senate, but failed in the House by a vote of 37-74-6.
SB591 would have preserved affordable housing stock by requiring owners of buildings that receive a federal subsidy to notify their tenants of their intention to “opt-out” of the program and give tenants the first right to purchase the building at fair market rates.

HB 1352: Source of Income Protection
Status: Failed to pass out of the House by a vote of 39-59-17.
HB1352 would have amended the state Human Rights Act to include protection from discrimination based on source of income, i.e. Housing Choice Vouchers or Social Security Disability.

HB 2206: Statewide Rental Assistance Program
Status: Passed out of Housing and Urban Development Committee; not called for a vote.
HB 2206 would have created a rental assistance program by recruiting landlords into the program and providing quarterly rental subsidies for units maintained as affordable. To pay for the program, a $10 fee would have been added to the recording of mortgage documents at the county recorders of deeds, but there was strong opposition to this funding source; negotiations continue.

HB 3067: Residential Renters' Rights and Responsibilities Act
Status: Heard in Housing and Urban Development Committee; study subcommittee created.
HB 3067 would standardize the landlord/tenant relationship throughout the state, including standard definitions for tenancy, setting limits for security deposits and other fees, and providing redress for tenants. With strong opposition from the landlords’ lobby, a subcommittee was formed which will meet during the summer and fall.

For more information on any of this legislation, check the General Assembly website at www.ilga.gov.  For bills that passed both Houses, looked for the “enrolled” version (includes all amendments).  If you have questions, call our office at 847-424-9898 or via e-mail at Julie@juliehamos.org.