About

HOUSING NEEDS

Like most of the United States, Northwest Illinois faces housing, demographic, and childcare challenges, including:

• Aging housing stock - 4 of 6 counties have a median year built of 1961 or earlier

• An older population trying to age into housing built without accessibility in mind - 43.3% of people are over 49, compared to 35.9% in the United States. 

• Scarce, expensive childcare - the cost of childcare for a local household with 2 children ranges from 23% to 31% of median household income

A Design Competition to Address Housing Needs

As part of our efforts to address these issues, BHRC is holding a housing design competition.  Winning designs will incorporate Key Concepts and support local governments and not-for-profit organizations in their efforts to stabilize neighborhoods and build vibrant places.  Learn more about competing - including eligibility and timelines - here.

Developing and Supporting the Design Competition

BHRC has worked to develop this project, receiving funding from AARP in the summer of 2025.  The AARP Community Challenge is a grant program to make tangible improvements in communities that jump-start long-term change.  It is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which supports the efforts of cities, towns, neighborhoods and rural areas to become great places to live for people of all ages.  To learn more, visit AARP.org/livable.

KEY CONCEPTS

1. Multigenerational living: This is an approach to community that encourages different generations to interact with greater ease, building relationships that improve physical and mental welfare.  Practical matters - like childcare and grocery delivery - and psychological needs - like combating loneliness - are addressed.  Formal and informal supportive systems may develop.  It may occur on a single property (like grandparents moving into an ADU next to their child's house) or neighborhood-wide (common spaces that are easily walkable and open to the public).

2. Universal design and accessibility: In the domain of housing, universal design means that a house is usable for people of all ages and abilities.  When universal design elements underpin planning, a resident has a better chance of living in their house safely and independently through different stages of life.  Universal design is different from accessible design, which is often tailored to specific accessibility needs; however, universal design can ensure accessibility and make installing and using assistive technologies easier.  Find more information on universal design and age-friendly housing in the Resources section.

3. Housing affordability: Part of the current housing crisis is due to the cost of existing stock.  No matter how well designed, a house that is not affordable to middle and low-income households is not available.

4. Modularity and scalability: The design can work in many places and situations: single-family or multi-family; infill or pocket neighborhood; brownfield or greenfield development; and so on.

5. Environmental sustainability: Both embodied and operational carbon emissions are a key part of environmental sustainability.  Net-zero energy housing is great for the cost of operations, but over-building can do great harm to the planet up front.

6. Infill development and pocket neighborhoods: These types of development take advantage of already existing infrastructure and can improve neighborhood reinvestment by others.  Infill development is an alternative to sprawl, conserving open space.  Proximity to public services - like the library, a grocery store, and schools - is also a feature in these approaches.

7. Cultural/historical character: How does it fit?  Housing works in a neighborhood sometimes when it is complementary, sometimes when it is in contrast.