The Illinois Association of Realtors supports House Bill 4100 and Senate Bill 520, the Rental Housing Support Program Act. The Act provides grants for affordable rent subsidies to low-income tenants and the developers of affordable rental housing. Funding for the subsidies would come from a $10 surcharge to record mortgage related documents.
Naperville Republican State Representative Jim Meyers voted for the bill this past November. Republican State Representatives Sandra M. Pihos (42nd District/Glen Ellyn), Patricia R. Bellock (District 47/Westmont), Paul Froehlich (56th District/Schaumburg) and John J. Millner (55th District/St. Charles) among others have sponsored the bill. The bill is supported by at least 140 groups statewide, including housing and social-minded organizations.
Does Illinois have a problem with affordable housing for its workers? Does DuPage? When you need to work two full-time jobs or more for housing, it’s a problem.
According to the Naperville Sun, Naperville Republican Representative Joe Dunn voted against the bill in the state house, saying that the free market should fix rental prices and government should not get involved.
Dunn said: “I believe that in creating a welfare program like this we are just creating a crutch for people to rely on…. We generally in the long run are not helping people by providing this type of assistance.”
People who work full-time should be able to afford housing. It’s that simple. It’s not welfare - it’s called a living wage. It’s called decency, justice. Joe should consult the Illinois Association of Realtors and his local Republican colleagues - many of whom are for the bill.
Maybe Joe Dunn has a better plan to get affordable housing for working people, the people we all depend on to do their jobs right so that we can eat, commute, live and enjoy life. If he does I’m all ears. If he doesn’t, he should vote for the Rental Housing Support Program Act in the upcoming General Assembly session. It won’t help everyone in need (it should help with about 5,000 units), but it’s a start. And a start is better than stalling while people go without shelter. It can get pretty cold, wet and windy out there.
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