The Illinois REALTORS® Governmental Affairs Directors (GAD) program has been recognized as a model for local government advocacy among REALTOR® organizations nationwide.
The GAD program is an extension of our substantial statewide public policy advocacy resources and the Chicago-area GADs work with the Chicago Association of REALTORS® in the frontline of our community. Illinois REALTORS® and the Chicago Association of REALTORS® are a united front advocating for the protection of homeownership and private property rights.
In the coming months, that role means leading and participating in coalitions to create comprehensive solutions for more available and affordable housing for Illinoisians. A little-known fact, no matter how much the data trumpets it, is that Illinois is facing a dire housing shortage. We have to work with our elected officials at every level of government to address this dire situation.
In Chicago, that means helping to find a comprehensive and creative solution to homelessness while trying to persuade our leaders to invest in restoring and constructing new housing that is affordable for all.
REALTOR® members and the Governmental Affairs Team have been busy strengthening existing relationships with incumbents and building new relationships.
One is with the current city administration. While we agree with many of the overall goals of the Brandon Johnson administration’s effort to address the growing homelessness problem in our beloved city, we don’t believe that imposing a greater tax burden on property owners is the answer.
When it comes to addressing the fact that we have a housing crisis, REALTORS® have created a bold legislative agenda and we will be working with this City Council to address it.
Our agenda includes proposals to decrease costs for homeowners and developers, promote homeownership and fully fund and modernize homeowner programs. We aim to offer common-sense proposals to increase housing affordability, embrace adaptive reuse of vacant commercial spaces and expand the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Pilot Program citywide. We also will continue our efforts to combat appraisal discrimination, residential segregation and NIMBYism.
It’s a tall task but we are ready for the challenge.
Why? Because our REALTOR® members in Chicago want to improve their communities, make housing more available and affordable and ensure that everyone in our magnificent city can achieve the dream of homeownership.
Tom Benedetto is the Illinois REALTORS® director of local advocacy.