Affordable Housing

New Tenant of Washington Senior Apartments: 'It Feels Like Coming Home'

By Colleen Reynolds • 23 hours ago

The front of the newly rennovated Bloomington High School building — Colleen Reynolds / WGLT

The first tenants of the former Bloomington High School building in downtown Bloomington began moving in a couple of weeks ago, following a $17 million renovation that began in 2016 when Iceberg Development Group LLC of LeClaire, Iowa, purchased the historic structure.

Senior Housing Proposed For Fairview Building In Normal

By Charlie Schlenker • Jan 6, 2021

Rendering of a proposed apartment building. — Town of Normal

A union-backed development group is moving forward with a $9 million affordable senior housing project that would use the old TB Sanatorium in Normal.

Bloomington, Peoria Among ‘Strong Communities’ Grant Winners

By Eric Stock • Dec 22, 2020

Close up of damaged ceiling — WGLT file photo

The state has issued the first grant winners through a new community revitalization effort that includes Bloomington, Peoria and dozens of communities across Illinois.

Special Needs Housing Hard To Find In Central Illinois

By Colleen Reynolds • Sep 23, 2020

Aerial image of subdivision in the background with message reading: Housing Blueprint: The Future of Housing in Illinois — Photo courtesy of the Illinois Housing Development Authority

Representatives who work for central Illinois social service agencies and nonprofit organizations say finding safe, affordable housing is not easy—but it's an even bigger challenge for someone who has special needs.

State Approves Tax Credits For 2 McLean County Affordable Housing Projects

By Eric Stock • Jul 22, 2020

Road signs at intersection — Eric Stock / WGLT

Two new affordable housing developments are coming to McLean County with assistance from federal low-income housing tax credits.

Compliance Masks Challenges In Senior, Affordable Housing

By Eric Stock • Feb 17, 2020

Dave Griggs standing in apartment — Eric Stock / WGLT

Every community struggles to find adequate housing for aging residents who lose their independence. And not all residential complexes are perfect all the time. There can be problems and poor living conditions.

Night In A Car Raises Money and Awareness

By Colleen Reynolds • Feb 8, 2020

Daughter and mother pose with a social media backdrop for Night in a Car. — Colleen Reynolds / WGLT

Michael Gregg has two gym memberships. The 68-year-old has run five marathons and wearing a dark henley shirt, jeans, and fashionable black-rimmed glasses, you would never see him as homeless. But, for the past two months, Gregg’s address has been the Billy Shelper shelter at Home Sweet Home Ministries.

Bloomington Picked For National 'Healthy Housing' Initiative

By Ryan Denham • Dec 10, 2019

Bloomington city officials are traveling to North Carolina this week for the first gathering of a national initiative aimed at improving public health through housing.

Housing Matters: Chipping Away At Segregation

By Charlie Schlenker • Nov 1, 2019

Editor's note: This is part of a five-story series reported at the Housing Action Illinois conference in Bloomington on Oct. 24-25. The stories ran Wednesday, Oct. 30, on WGLT's Sound Ideas.

Housing Matters: Affordable Housing And The Middle Class

By Mary Cullen • Oct 30, 2019

Larry Pusateri speaks — Mary Cullen / WGLT

Editor's note: This is part of a five-story series reported at the Housing Action Illinois conference in Bloomington on Oct. 24-25. The stories ran Wednesday, Oct. 30, on WGLT's Sound Ideas.

Housing Matters: Pushing Landlords To Look Beyond A Criminal Record

By Ryan Denham • Oct 30, 2019

Nancy, Marketta, and Maria — Ryan Denham / WGLT

Editor's note: This is part of a five-story series reported at the Housing Action Illinois conference in Bloomington on Oct. 24-25. The stories ran Wednesday, Oct. 30, on WGLT's Sound Ideas.

Housing Matters: Pilot Program Links Homelessness To Health

By Eric Stock • Oct 30, 2019

Housing conference in Bloomington — Eric Stock / WGLT

Editor's note: This is part of a five-story series reported at the Housing Action Illinois conference in Bloomington on Oct. 24-25. The stories ran Wednesday, Oct. 30, on WGLT's Sound Ideas.

Affordable Housing Advocates Want $1bn From Capital Plan

By Brian Mackey • May 22, 2019

Affordable-housing advocates are joining the chorus calling on Illinois lawmakers to approve an infrastructure plan.

Affordable Housing Project Planned In Bloomington Using Tax Credits

By Ryan Denham • May 20, 2019

Lincoln Lofts site location — Google Maps

The awarding of around $1.4 million in federal tax credits will clear the way for a new, 56-unit affordable housing development in Bloomington.

For Low Wage Workers Housing is Out of Reach

By editor • Mar 22, 2019

An estimated 10,643 people in Illinois are homeless according to federal data. Many of those are working - but still can’t make ends meet.

For the Stephens family, it all began with a landlord who refused to make repairs to their rental home.

“Our roof was a joke,” Jenny Stephens said. “Our roof had a big old huge hole in it, gaping hole. And when it snowed, we had snow in our kitchen.”

Eviction Record Sealing Measure Advances

By Maureen Foertsch McKinney • Mar 18, 2019

A measure to expand cases when eviction records can be sealed has advanced out of a House committee.

Proponents say unsealed eviction notices can taint a renter’s record even if an eviction is never carried out. That makes it difficult for renters to find a new home.

Bob Palmer of Housing Action Illinois says,“We understand that landlords have a compelling interest in wanting to screen tenants so they can get good tenants, but we don't think that just having an eviction filing is a good reflection on someone's ability to be a good tenant.”