Chicago Residents Rally for Increased Affordable Housing

Chicago Residents Rally for Increased Affordable HousingChicago Residents Rally for Increased Affordable Housing In a city where the cost of living continues to skyrocket, hundreds of Chicago residents took to the streets to demand immediate action for increased affordable housing. The rally, organized by the Chicago Housing Justice League, brought together tenants, homeowners, community leaders, and elected officials. They marched from Daley Plaza to City Hall, chanting slogans such as “Housing is a human right!” and “Stop the evictions!” “We are here today because we are tired of the unaffordable housing crisis that is tearing apart our city,” said Maria Rodriguez, a tenant who spoke at the rally. “We can’t afford to wait any longer. We need action now.” The rally comes amid a growing crisis of housing affordability in Chicago. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, over half of all renters in the city are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. For many low-income families, finding a decent and affordable place to live is becoming increasingly difficult. “The housing market is totally broken,” said Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd Ward), who joined the rally. “We need to invest in affordable housing, and we need to do it now.” The rally participants called on Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago City Council to take immediate steps to address the housing crisis, including: * Increasing funding for affordable housing programs * Expanding rent control * Protecting tenants from evictions * Creating affordable homeownership opportunities “We are not going to give up until everyone in Chicago has a safe and affordable place to live,” said Emily Coffey, director of the Chicago Housing Justice League. “We are calling on our elected officials to make this a reality.” The rally underscores the growing demand for affordable housing in Chicago and the urgency with which residents are calling for action. As the city continues to grapple with the housing crisis, the voices of those who are struggling to make ends meet must be heard.