Pritzker promotes $156M in taxpayer funds for housing before election
[October 31, 2026]
By Sean Reed | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Illinois announced new funding across multiple
programs to make housing more affordable just days ahead of the
election, while the funds were approved by the governor as far back as
June
Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed the Building Up Illinois Developments
housing plan, or BUILD, early this year, but many parts of the
legislative package sat on the back burner during the General Assembly’s
spring session.
The proposal would make sweeping statewide zoning and regulatory
changes, aimed at increasing supply, reducing overhead costs, and
speeding up development timelines.
Most of the package passed in May tied into increased funding for
existing state programs, which Pritzker touted earlier this week – five
months after the budget passed and days before voters will decide if
he’ll remain in office for a third term.
Over the past decade, the average home value has increased 73% in
Illinois, with a roughly 30% increase in the past five years, based on
the Federal Housing Financing Administration's Housing Price Index.
“This announcement is $156 million in total, powered by $103 million in
new funding that we secured for our Build Initiative funding last
session. That will help lower costs. It helps to build new homes, expand
home ownership,” Pritzker said.
Included in the funds is the Opening Doors program, which will receive
$25 million in taxpayer funds to provide up to $9,000 in forgivable
loans for down payments for new and repeat homebuyers that meet regional
income requirements.
Pritzker said he’s been focused on affordability during his time as
governor.
“You never hear your rent went down. You rarely hear that your electric
bill went down. But one thing we can do for people is put more money in
their pockets,” Pritzker said.
Previously, Pritzker said the remaining proposals of BUILD not passed in
May, like statewide changes to zoning laws to reduce the barriers to
building new housing, would likely not be passed during the
legislature’s upcoming six-day fall session.
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Houses line a suburban neighborhood. Photo: Alan Wooten / The Center
Square
The Illinois Municipal League, an organization of local government
officials, was against the housing proposal for its far-reaching
zoning laws and for being excluded from discussions despite efforts
to engage and give input on the plan.
In a statement, IML CEO Brad Cole said the organization shares the
governor's goal but hopes for future engagement.
“Municipal officials across Illinois remain dedicated to improving
housing access and affordability and believe meaningful progress can
be made while preserving local decision-making,” Cole said. “We
want, and continue to be ready, to work in collaboration with policy
makers and other stakeholders on this vital issue.”
Pritzker was confident more BUILD legislation would pass in the next
year, potentially alongside similar or additional funding.
“Now, we passed some parts of BUILD during this last session of the
general assembly this year, but there's still more to do. And I am
undaunted. Big meaningful reforms often take more than just a year
to get done,” Pritzker said.
Thirty-six-million dollars of the money will also go toward the
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which Pritzker and housing authority
officials said would be for new and existing low-income housing
developments across the state, and $14M for the permanent supporting
housing program.
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