Josh Hawkins
Edna B. Williams-Foreman received homeownership counseling and down-payment assistance through the University of Chicago's employer-assisted housing program.
An Investment That Pays Many Times Over
Employer-assisted housing (EAH) is a generic term to describe any number of ways employers are investing in homes for the local workforce. In Illinois, thanks to a number of public incentives and nonprofit partners, EAH is a cost-effective and hassle-free way companies can improve workforce retention, recruitment and morale. By helping employees buy or rent homes close to work or transit, employers help reduce the long commutes that contribute not only to time away from family, traffic congestion, dependence on foreign oil, and air pollution, but also to employee stress and fatigue. Today’s unstable and unaffordable housing markets, as well as neighborhoods and families devastated by foreclosures, can further undermine worker productivity. MPC helps employers and communities design and implement customized EAH programs to meet local needs and engage business leaders in broader housing solutions.
Introducing EAH in Your Region
Articles
Tax credits ‘icing on the cake’ for Chicago’s EAH employers-
- As home sales in Chicago begin to pick up, a range of city employers are offering employer-assisted housing (EAH) programs that support their workers’ homeownership goals, boost the housing market, and benefit the companies in the long run.
Through EAH, employers provide assistance to their…
Model housing strategies in north and south suburbs share common theme: collaboration-
- Despite Illinois’ famous appetite for local control, with more units of local government than any other state, a new way of doing business – municipal collaboration – is proving effective and attracting both political and media attention. A group of communities in the south…
MPC in Springfield: Solutions for a strong economy-
- Good policy doesn’t have to be expensive – in fact, it can lead to cost savings – and MPC’s 2010 Springfield legislative agenda is proof. This session, MPC is advocating for several bills that would improve state policies related to water supply planning, pedestrian safety,…
- Federal incentives fueling Illinois progress
-
- While social and economic progress never moves as quickly as policy reformers and advocates wish, the State of Illinois’ 2010 Comprehensive Housing Plan underscores how federal incentives can fuel local innovation.
Congratulations are in order for the state and its innovative plan, which…
- Employer-Assisted Housing Resources
-
- A wealth of information on employer assisted housing programs for business leaders and other stakeholders
Multimedia
Employer-assisted housing participants live closer to work-
- The University of Chicago employer-assisted housing (EAH) program provides downpayment assistance and access to homebuyer education to help employees live near work. From 2003 to 2009, 485 employees received credit counseling and homebuyer education from the nonprofit Neighborhood Housing Services…
Livable Communities Act
S 1619 and HR 4690: Federal framework to promote local competitiveness and sustainability-
- Publication
- (65 KB)
- March 3, 2010
- The Livable Communities Act (S 1619 and HR 4690) would provide a multi-year authorization for federal sustainability initiatives. The bill authorizes $4 billion over four years for regional planning and challenge grants to make communities more livable, and eliminates federal barriers to…
- Improving Housing-Transportation Linkages: Learning from listening sessions in Atlanta and Minneapolis-St. Paul
-
- Publication
- (209 KB)
- February 23, 2010
- In March and April, 2009, the Metropolitan Planning Council and the Center for Housing Policy convened stakeholders in Atlanta and Minneapolis-St. Paul to discuss barriers to coordinating housing and transportation investments. This publication summarizes best practices and key challenges raised by…
Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit
HB 6038: Renewing the incentive that attracts private support for employer-assisted housing in Illinois-
- Publication
- (34 KB)
- February 18, 2010
- The Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit Program (IAHTC), which provides a 50 cent credit on state income tax liability for every $1 invested in an employer-assisted housing (EAH) program — is an effective tool to engage employers in housing solutions and increase homeownership among…
- Linking Housing to Prosperity: Successes & Opportunities
-
- Listen to this recording of MPC's Oct. 23, 2009, roundtable featuring a panel discussion on local workforce housing successes and opportunities to shape federal investments to promote more livable communities. Panelists were Dorothy Shaw, director of state & local affairs for Northrop Grumman…
Links
- Housing Action Illinois
- Housing Action Illinois teams up with MPC to cover the development and sustainability of EAH partnerships outside of the Chicago region and throughout the state. More info »
- Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is a major proponent of building public – private partnerships throughout Illinois and has highlighted EAH through their Workforce Development arm. While committed to encouraging statewide economic development by cultivating a well-trained workforce, DCEO enlists EAH and other tools to help employers thrive. More info »
- Illinois Housing Development Authority
- Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is an integral part of the REACH partnership. As the state’s primary housing finance agency, IHDA implemented public incentives for the REACH program. Employers running an EAH program are eligible to receive a state tax credit and employees taking advantage of an EAH program might qualify for a state matching fund. Thanks to IHDA’s leadership on the issue, other states have contemplated initiating similar incentives. More info »
- REACH Illinois
- The REACH Illinois web site gives practical information about how programs are designed and implemented, available incentives, and examples of existing programs in Illinois. Participating partners, including employers and nonprofit housing organizations, as well as case studies on successful programs are available. More info »
- Transportation for America
- MPC is a member of Transportation for America, a broad coalition seeking to align national, state, and local transportation policies with an array of issues such as economic opportunity, climate change, energy security, health, housing and community development. Subscribe to T4America’s blog to stay up to date on federal legislation related to these goals. More info »
More related links »
Collaborators
Partners
Chicago Metropolis 2020
City of Chicago
Housing Action Illinois
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Illinois Housing Development Authority
Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
Funders
Charter One Foundation
The Chicago Community Trust
City of Chicago Department of Community Development
The F.B. Heron Foundation
The Harris Family Foundation
Ford Foundation
Legacy Foundation
The Northern Trust Company
Polk Bros. Foundation
Surdna Foundation
