The City of Rockford Community Relations Commission discusses affordable rental housing

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Many housing agencies and organizations came together at the Community Relations Commission to discuss affordable rental units in Rockford on May 9th.

“We want everybody to be able to have housing affordability at all levels,” said Illinois Relators Government Affairs Director Neely Erickson. “And so what the city of Rockford is looking to do is to address that in each of the wards throughout.”

Housing as a whole has been a focal point for the commission. They are hoping with the panel discussion more solutions can be found looking from different angles.

“The goal of all of us is to present some good ideas for how we can develop more affordable housing in the Rockford area and what that looks like and how it can be implemented,” said Zion Development Executive Director Bob Campbell.

The average median income in Rockford is $42,000 a year, so experts said it is crucial to have housing available for people who average the median and those who make less than that as well.

“With so much competition that really drives up housing prices and it makes it unaffordable and unattainable for many individuals currently living in the city of Rockford to move in as a first-time home buyer or to fill or filter up to the next level of housing,” said Erickson. “So we need more housing stock.”

According to studies and experts, as of now the city of Rockford needs 3,000 affordable rental units to meet the population needs. However, to meet future needs and have a healthy market the city has to get to 9,000 units.

The amount of employees in Rockford is growing but not the population. This is one of the many reasons that make solving this issue difficult.

“I know that in Rockford, one out of four tenants spends 50% of their gross income on rent that might contribute to the high eviction rate here as well,” said Prairie State Legal Services Managing Attorney Jesse Hodierne.

Commission board members said these panels bringing so many groups together to tackle an issue is how they can continue to capitalize on housing and in this case renting in the area.

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