SPRINGFIELD — Senator Graciela Guzmán and State Representative Will Guzzardi spearheaded a new law to bring to light the lack of affordable housing in Illinois and inspire solutions for developing more reasonably priced options.

“In my conversations with constituents, I’ve heard the struggles many are facing with housing affordability and the challenges they face in trying to keep up with rising rent,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Thanks to this law, we will have more data about just how few affordable housing options folks currently have in our state so we can better advocate for changes to accommodate working families.”

Illinois has taken steps to address housing insecurity by prioritizing the needs of those most vulnerable to experiencing homelessness. The Office to Prevent and End Homelessness has implemented a multi-year strategy, HOME Illinois, to reach functional zero homelessness statewide. Additionally, the Illinois Housing Development Authority finances and encourages the growth and preservation of affordable housing for renters at 80% of the area median income and below. These measures have worked to prevent some of the most vulnerable Illinoisans from experiencing homelessness. 

However, people earning the average area income are often ineligible for these programs — leaving them with few affordable options. Still facing a lack of reasonably priced housing, middle-income earners are pushed into the affordable housing market, making affordable housing less accessible for them and those earning less.

The new law, House Bill 3616, aims to illuminate the demand for affordable housing and the lack of housing inventory middle-income earners are facing. It requires IHDA to collect data on the inventory of affordable housing that is accessible to extremely low-income and middle-income households in each local government in Illinois. Every five years, IHDA is required to make this data available to the public and report the data to the General Assembly. From there, it can be used to influence policy to invest in more affordable housing options. 

 "I’m proud to have worked with Sen. Guzmán on HB 3616 to expand the data available on affordable housing units across the state,” said Rep. Will Guzzardi, the lead sponsor of the measure in the House. “This legislation helps clarify where affordable units are located and who they are truly affordable for. As rent and homeownership costs continue to rise at an alarming rate, more and more working families are at risk of losing already unstable and unaffordable housing. This bill is a step toward more equitable and data-driven housing policy for our neighbors."

House Bill 3616 was signed into law earlier this month and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2026.