Two DuPage County advisory panels voted unanimously to zero out the county's $5.5 million affordable-housing construction fund and redirect the money toward rental assistance, utility bills and moving costs.
The Home Advisory Group and the CDC Executive Committee each approved the recommendation Tuesday, Sept. 1. The amendment rewrites how DuPage spends just over $6.5 million it received through the federal HOME-ARP program, part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP).
Specifically, the amendment eliminates the $5,505,249 line for building new affordable rental units and raises the supportive-services budget by $5,360,033, from $500,000 to $5,860,033. Administration and planning would grow by $145,216, to $655,000.
Why the pivot
Julie Hamlin, the county's community development administrator, told the Home Advisory Group that the original plan prioritized constructing affordable rentals with three or more bedrooms. Developers and nonprofit partners found the program unworkable.
The problem was structural. Eligible households generally earn extremely low or no income, rents are capped at 30% of household income, and the DuPage Housing Authority lacks enough vouchers to bridge the gap.
Meanwhile, other rental-assistance funding sources are nearing or have hit their spending deadlines. Redirecting HOME-ARP dollars to direct aid fills that gap.
Under the new plan, eligible residents could receive short- and medium-term rental assistance, help with utility payments, and coverage of first and last month's rent and moving expenses. The program targets people who are extremely low-income, homeless or have no income.
What comes next
The amendment still needs approval from the Human Services Committee and the full County Board. County Board member Greg Schwarze, who chaired the Sept. 1 Home Advisory Group meeting, also chairs the Human Services Committee.
County Board member Saba Haider moved the recommendation in both panels. Andrew Honig seconded in the Home Advisory Group; Douglas Flint seconded in the CDC Executive Committee.
A public hearing is set for Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 5 p.m. at 421 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton, Conference Room 3-500a on the third floor. The comment period runs through Monday, Sept. 14, at 4:30 p.m.
Written comments can be mailed to 421 N. County Farm Road, Room 2-800, Wheaton, IL 60187, or emailed to [email protected].
If the County Board approves the change, staff would prepare the application and funding notice in September and release it in October. Applications would open in November, with scoring in December and recommendations presented in January 2027.
The next Home Advisory Group meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 6.
