As CHAs Plan For Transformation Turns 25, Advocates Worry It Could Take 40 More Years To Complete

The Chicago Housing Authority's (CHA) Plan for Transformation, launched 25 years ago, remains unfinished, leaving over 100 acres of CHA-owned land vacant. A report from Impact for Equity warns that if efforts do not accelerate, it could take an additional 30 to 40 years to meet housing commitments. The report urges collaboration among CHA, the city’s Department of Housing, and the Illinois Housing Development Authority to prioritize the construction of affordable homes within the next decade. Proposed solutions include tax incentives for developments featuring public housing and increased use of federal rental subsidies. CHA spokesperson Karen Vaughan recognized the report's suggestions as valuable, asserting that the agency has made significant progress in serving more residents over the past two decades.

However, advocates emphasize the critical need for traditional public housing amid rising rents and a shortage of affordable units. The CHA's previous demolitions led to a net loss of nearly 20,000 public housing units, raising concerns about the impact on low-income tenants. The city requires an estimated 100,000 additional affordable housing units to meet current demands.