State law could help address housing needs for ‘missing middle’ in DuPage, Will counties

A proposed state law would make more people in DuPage and Will counties eligible for housing assistance and help clear some hurdles for attainable housing developments.

The law, passed by both the state House and Senate, increases income eligibility requirements for housing assistance from 80% of the area median income to 140% of the area median income to better address housing concerns for the “missing middle.”

Once signed by Governor JB Pritzker, the bill would take effect immediately.

Officials say increasing home costs have been particularly difficult for the “missing middle” — typically described as those making too much to qualify for traditional assistance but not enough to keep pace with soaring housing costs.

“What we’re finding is that there really is not much to help with housing costs if you are in this group,” said state Rep. Marti Deuter, an Elmhurst Democrat serving the 45th District.

In 2024, the U.S. Census listed the median home value in DuPage County at $391,400 and the county’s median household income at $112,096.

Affordable housing standards suggest housing costs should be no more than one-third of annual income.

Officials note that housing prices have continued to outpace income levels. The median home sale price in DuPage in May topped $450,000, according to Redfin.

“That’s preventing nurses, firefighters, teachers and other first responders from purchasing their first home until they’re 40 to 45 years old,” said DuPage County Board Chair Deborah Conroy, who lobbied for the bill.

Because DuPage is not home rule, the county needed a state law change to have the authority to expand its attainable housing projects and programs.

DuPage Community Services Director Mary Keating said the county hopes to launch a down payment assistance program this fall.

Details of the program are still being discussed, but the county has set aside $5 million from its budget surplus for the program.

With the change in state law, a family of four, two-income household earning up to $170,000 could qualify for assistance, officials said.

Before the proposed change, the threshold for assistance was just under $100,000, or 80% of the area median income, officials noted.

“The ultimate goal is to get people some help to be able to afford to buy moderate, even upper-level income homes, that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to be able to live in DuPage County,” said county board member Sam Tornatore, who also co-chairs the board’s ad hoc housing solutions committee.

Officials said the program also helps address workforce needs by making it easier for those who work in DuPage to live there.

“The cost of housing is a workforce issue,” Deuter said. “In order to have enough employees for your businesses, you need places for your employees to live.”

In addition, DuPage has set aside $5 million to assist with the construction of attainable housing.

The state law would allow the county, which established a land bank last year, to use property it owns for attainable housing.

Will County also recently began discussions to establish a land bank to help address housing needs.

DuPage has 15 properties throughout the county that it obtained through foreclosure or donation.

Meanwhile, the creation of attainable housing has been a focus for DuPage officials since 2023. That year, Conroy signed a resolution establishing the ad hoc housing solutions committee. The county board has allocated money to assist DuPagePads and has worked with other agencies to promote attainable housing programs.