Chicago Nonprofit Builds Accessible Affordable Housing

Over the Rainbow Association opens 37-unit Lakeview building amid long waitlists for wheelchair-friendly apartments.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 2:07pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a wheelchair icon repeated in a grid pattern, conceptually representing the need for more accessible and affordable housing options.Accessible housing advocates fight to expand options for wheelchair users in Chicago, where long waitlists reveal a critical shortage of affordable, barrier-free apartments.Chicago Today

The nonprofit Over the Rainbow Association has spent decades providing barrier-free affordable housing in Chicago, and recently opened a 37-unit building in the Lakeview neighborhood. However, the demand for accessible and affordable apartments far exceeds the supply, with the organization reporting a waitlist of 60 people for just 8 units. Advocates argue the city needs to do more to ensure its subsidized housing stock complies with accessibility laws.

Why it matters

People who use wheelchairs in Chicago have very few options when it comes to apartments that are both accessible and affordable, forcing many into nursing homes or unstable housing instead of the independent living they desire. Over the Rainbow's model of fully accessible design combined with affordable rents offers a potential solution, but scaling up to meet the true demand will require policy changes and additional funding from the city.

The details

Over the Rainbow Association's new 37-unit Lakeview Landing building features barrier-free layouts and accessibility features tailored to wheelchair users, such as grab rails, low cabinets, and roll-in showers. The organization caps rents at no more than 30% of a resident's income, helping people maintain their independence. However, the organization reports a waitlist of 60 people for just 8 units, underscoring the massive shortage of this type of housing. Advocates argue the city needs to do more, including stronger enforcement of accessibility laws and increased funding, to address this systemic issue.

  • Over the Rainbow Association opened Lakeview Landing in October 2025.
  • Access Living sued the City of Chicago in 2018 over accessibility issues in subsidized housing.

The players

Over the Rainbow Association

A nonprofit organization that has spent decades providing barrier-free affordable housing in Chicago, including the new 37-unit Lakeview Landing building.

Eric Huffman

The president of Over the Rainbow Association, who has spoken about the high demand and long waitlists for the organization's accessible apartments.

Access Living

A disability advocacy organization that sued the City of Chicago in 2018, alleging the city failed to ensure its subsidized housing complies with accessibility laws.

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What they’re saying

“there's 60 people on that waiting list for eight apartments.”

— Eric Huffman, President, Over the Rainbow Association

What’s next

The City of Chicago has said it 'remains firmly committed to ensuring accessibility in all housing programs,' and advocates continue to push for stronger enforcement, more funding, and faster timelines to address the shortage of accessible affordable housing.

The takeaway

Over the Rainbow's model of fully accessible and affordable apartments demonstrates the potential to improve independent living options for wheelchair users in Chicago, but the scale of the problem requires a systemic policy response from the city to truly meet the demand.