Chicago to Invest $300M in Affordable Housing, Adding Over 1,200 Units

The plan aims to expand housing access and reduce displacement across the city.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:38pm

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Chicago officials announced a more than $300 million investment in affordable housing developments that will create or maintain over 1,200 rental units, including 1,164 designated as affordable, across 15 projects selected through the city's 2025 Qualified Allocation Plan.

Why it matters

The affordable housing initiative is part of the city's efforts to make 'housing as a human right' a reality for all Chicagoans, empowering families to plant roots in their communities and preventing long-time residents from being displaced.

The details

The plan includes a mix of new construction and preservation efforts, with 12 new developments creating 798 units and three rehabilitation projects maintaining affordability for 425 existing units. More than one-third of the units will be family-sized, and some will be reserved for households earning as little as 30% of the area median income. The initiative also includes senior housing and developments near public transit.

  • The $300 million investment was announced on April 1, 2026.

The players

Brandon Johnson

The mayor of Chicago who announced the affordable housing investment.

Chicago Department of Housing

The city agency that oversees the affordable housing developments and the 2025 Qualified Allocation Plan.

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What they’re saying

“Today we take a transformational step forward in our mission to make 'housing as a human right' a reality for every Chicagoan. Each unit we build empowers families to plant their roots in our city while increasing the ability for long-time residents to stay in their communities.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago

What’s next

The 15 affordable housing projects selected through the 2025 Qualified Allocation Plan will now move forward with construction and rehabilitation efforts, with the goal of creating or preserving over 1,200 units of affordable housing across Chicago.

The takeaway

Chicago's significant $300 million investment in affordable housing demonstrates the city's commitment to expanding access to housing and preventing displacement, a critical issue facing many urban areas. By leveraging public funding and private investment, the initiative aims to create long-term affordability for low-income residents and families.