Open Doors Open Lands Initiative (PDF)

Help increase funding for affordable housing as well as parks and wildlife preservations.

The Open Doors Open Lands initiative seeks to increase funding for the state’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The Trust Fund was created by the Illinois Legislature in 1989 to help create and fund affordable housing programs across the state. Currently one half of the state's real estate transfer tax (RETT) goes to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to build affordable housing. Levied on sellers of property at the time of sale, Illinois' RETT is currently a flat tax of $.50 per $500 of value, which is the second lowest RETT in the country.

By changing the way the RETT is collected, Illinois has the opportunity to not only create more affordable housing for people who need it, but to provide tax relief for most homeowners, as well as increasing funding for parks and wildlife preservation.

Check Status of Open Doors Open Lands legislation: SB 445 | HB 728

Affordable Housing Funding in the State's Capital Budget

Help Illinois create more affordable housing by making better and more effective use of its capital budget.

The state’s capital budget is funded through issuing bonds and is used to create revenue for construction costs for school, roads and state facilities. Many other states include funding in their capital budgets for affordable housing, but Illinois never has. This initiative seeks to add $100 million a year over five years to the next Illinois capital budget.

Action Needed:

Ask your state legislator to sign a letter in support of $100 million a year in the state's capital budget. Find your state legislator here.

Which legislators have signed on--Link coming soon.

Read the letter--Link coming soon.