Our efforts to organize citizens have proven to be critical to the success of preserving and increasing affordable housing. In March of 2007 DuPage United organized a meeting with the candidates for Downers Grove mayor and council. The candidates made specific commitments to address affordable housing in Downers Grove in front of 350 residents.

Since the new Mayor and Council took office in April 2007 the Village of Downers Grove has taken the following actions:
1) Hired an outside consultant to conduct a study on affordable housing.
2) Established an ad hoc committee of residents to determine which solutions are best suited for Downers Grove and make recommendation to the village council.
3) Included affordable housing in their strategic plan for 2007/2008.
4) Ceded $1.3 million in bond cap to the Illinois Housing Development Authority, which assists first time low to middle-income homebuyers.

This is significant progress for the Mayor and Council. When the pastors from St. Joe’s and First United Methodist Church met with the Mayor (now former Mayor) at the beginning of this effort, the Mayor stated that affordable housing was not an issue for the Village because the market forces should determine what housing is built and preserved in Downers Grove. All but one of the council members agreed with the Mayor and most still do; however, they can not ignore their constituents.

Similar organizing efforts took place in Naperville. A few years ago, the Naperville Mayor and Council did not think the city should be involved in the affordable housing issue. As a direct result of our efforts, the City of Naperville has taken the following actions:
1) Included affordable housing in its Strategic Initiative Plan for 2007/2008.
2) Directed city staff to assess the need and research solutions that would best fit Naperville.
3) Hired an outside consultant to do a comprehensive study of residents and business to assess the housing needs in Naperville.
4) Expanded the Fair Housing Commissions’ authority to make recommendations to the Mayor and Council regarding affordable housing issues.

DuPage United is currently working to integrate affordable housing into potential development opportunities in Naperville.

The increased interest and participation from citizens in Downer Grove and Naperville has increased our ability to work at a county and state level. DuPage United and their sister organizations are also working to get $100 million a year allocated in the 2008 State capital budget for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.