'Affordable, Attainable Housing Is Not Optional': Lake County Board Chair

LAKE COUNTY, IL — Last week, a coalition of more than 175 leaders gathered to officially unveil the Housing Lake: Call to Action, a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing the county's severe housing shortage, which now exceeds 16,000 homes.

This Call to Action is meant to be a roadmap created through the collaboration of municipalities, developers, employers, nonprofits and other community leaders working to expand housing options for working families, seniors, and young professionals, according to a news release.

Lake County, like many parts of the Chicago region, is facing a housing crisis. With median home values soaring to $326,600 and average rents hovering around $1,710, essential workers such as teachers, healthcare professionals and first responders are increasingly unable to afford to live in the communities where they serve.

The housing shortage in the county has reached critical levels, and the Call to Action aims to bring urgent solutions, officials said.

The announcement comes after seven months of intensive collaboration between more than 50 municipalities, planning staff, developers and local employers. Through a series of workshops, a kick-off celebration, and last week's summit, the coalition has established a shared vision and concrete goals aimed at narrowing the gap between Lake County's housing supply and its growing demand.

"Affordable and attainable housing isn’t optional; it’s essential to the health of our communities and our economy," said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. "Today, we have a shared vision and a clear roadmap to help ensure that the teachers, healthcare workers, and first responders who serve our communities—and the young families building their lives here—can afford to call Lake County home."

The Housing Lake: Call to Action focuses on four key pillars that emerged from stakeholder engagement:

1. Policy & Regulatory Reform: Updating zoning codes and streamlining the approval process for new housing developments.
2. Funding & Financing Tools: Creating dedicated funding streams and forming employer partnerships to support housing efforts.
3. Partnerships & Development Capacity: Strengthening regional coordination and development capacity.
4. Communications & Education: Addressing misconceptions surrounding housing and highlighting the human impact behind the need for more affordable homes.

The summit also marked the launch of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning's (CMAP) Century Plan, a long-range vision for northeastern Illinois, according to the news release. The event solidified key regional commitments and will serve as a model for future collaboration across government, civic and business sectors.

"Thank you to Lake County and the Housing Lake stakeholders for your leadership and commitment to sustainable housing solutions," said Erin Aleman, CMAP Executive Director. "This work will serve as a strong model for regional coordination and inform the Century Plan."

Looking ahead, the Call to Action will move into the implementation phase. Starting this summer, a virtual speaker series will dive deeper into each of the four foundational pillars, providing coalition members with the expertise and actionable strategies needed to turn this vision into reality.

The fuull Call to Action is now available at housinglakeco.com. Coalition membership is still open to organizations and stakeholders committed to expanding housing availability, stability, and choice in Lake County.