The Department of Housing (DOH) is now accepting applications to serve on a steering committee that will help guide the development of its 2024-2028 Five-Year Housing Plan. DOH is committed to creating a comprehensive plan that will promote affordable housing, reduce homelessness, and ensure that all residents have access to safe and healthy housing.

DOH is seeking applications from practitioners, advocates, researchers, and people with lived experience. The steering committee will be responsible for providing intensive feedback and leadership on the development of the five-year plan and will play a critical role in ensuring that the plan is responsive to the needs of communities across the city. Applications will be accepted until June 1, 2023, at 11:59p (CST), and can be submitted online by filling out this form.

“The five-year housing plan is an opportunity to set our priorities and build a housing agenda around principles and values of equity,” said DOH Commissioner Marisa Novara. “It represents the City’s commitment to robust and affordable housing.”

The 2024-2028 Five-Year Housing Plan will draw on the pillars of existing plans, including the Blueprint for Fair Housing; A Roadmap for a Second Chance City: Chicago’s Working Group on Returning Residents Recommendations; the Citywide Strategic Plan to Address Gender-Based Violence and Human Trafficking; the Climate Action Plan; the Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (ETOD) Policy Plan; the Inclusionary Housing Task Force Staff Report; and We Will’s Community Engagement, Economic Development, Environment, Climate, and Energy, Housing and Neighborhoods, and Transportation and Infrastructure. 

The housing plan, which will be the City’s seventh, will be published and presented for adoption by City Council at the end of 2023 following a multi-part public engagement process that begins with the Steering Committee. During the Steering Committee process, which involves three meetings throughout the course of Q3, DOH will engage with a wide range of stakeholders and hold a public comment period.

The Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) will help DOH lead the plan’s process, receiving grants from the Chicago Community Trust and Polk Bros. Foundation to support community outreach.

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