U.S. Census data show nearly half of Bloomington-Normal renters are defined as rent-burdened, meaning at least 30% of their income goes toward rent.
The statewide Lift The Ban Coalition has started canvassing the Twin Cities to gather support for the Illinois legislature to lift its 22-year ban on placing rent caps.
The coalition's Allan Axelrod of Urbana noted Illinois is one of 37 states where mortgages are cheaper than rent. Axelrod said too many landlords see their jobs as passive income, without seeing their social responsibility.
“Right now, what they have is an unregulated rush to trap people into a feudalistic system where they are paying through the nose on this,” Axelrod said. “So they are saying we don’t deserve limits on what we are doing to these families.”
Matt Tozco of Bloomington has been collecting signatures in Bloomington-Normal. He said while much of the group's efforts have been focused on Chicago, housing costs are a problem in the Twin Cities too.
“I think a lot of it goes under the radar,” Tozco explained. “It’s not in the papers, you don’t see it as much in your face as you do in bigger cities, but I definitely think the problem is there and the need is there.”
The American Community Survey'smost recent data from 2017shows a 59% of renters in Normal and 43% of renters in Bloomington spend at least 30% of their income on housing. That compares with 54% in Chicago.
A proposal to lift the ban in Illinois failed to make it out of a legislative committee in the spring. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said he supports lifting the ban.
If it ever passes, Axelrod said the group will push another measure to set up six regional rent control boards across the state that would set allowable rent increases based on inflation.
Illinois Realtors is lobbying against the proposal. President Ed Neaves of Bloomington said on WGLT’s Sound Ideas recently rent caps would force many landlords to invest less in their properties or get out of the business entirely.
Axelrod said that’s why the coalition would like to see additional measures to ensure tenants’ rights, including a national policy backed by People’s Action that calls for increased taxation to expand public housing.
Vermont senator and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has included elements of the planin his Housing for All proposal.
WGLT depends on financial support from users to bring you stories and interviews like this one. As someone who values experienced, knowledgeable, and award-winning journalists covering meaningful stories in Central Illinois, please consider making a contribution.
