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. By assisting employees to buy or rent homes close to work or transit, employers help reduce the long commutes that contribute to employee stress and fatigue, traffic congestion, U.S. dependence on foreign oil, and regional air pollution. Today’s unstable and unaffordable housing markets, as well as neighborhoods and families devastated by foreclosures, can further undermine worker productivity. In Illinois, thanks to a number of public incentives and nonprofit partners, participating companies find EAH to be a cost-effective and hassle-free way to improve workforce retention, recruitment and morale.
In addition to advancing policy recommendations to strengthen employer-assisted housing initiatives, MPC plays a hands-on role in EAH by working with employers and communities to design and implement customized EAH programs. MPC’s EAH initiative also is linked to northeastern Illinois' Commute Options pilot, through which numerous public and private partners are working together to help employers offer workers a range of transportation choices (including EAH), so they don’t have to drive solo to work; and to the EAH-R program, through which employers assist homeowners with making energy retrofits to their homes to reduce their utility payments.
Multimedia
2012 Plan for Prosperity: Innovative Solutions for the New Normal-
- Publication
- (1 MB)
- Jan 12, 2012
- To read MPC's 2012 Plan for Prosperity, download the file. The following is MPC President MarySue Barrett's introductory letter.
Sometimes, things aren’t what they seem. For decades, the United States enjoyed what appeared to be boundless economic expansion. Consumers spent and borrowed…
Beyond the Neighborhood Stabilization Program: How Foreclosure Recovery Can Foster Sustainable Communities-
- Listen to this recording of MPC's Feb. 15, 2011, roundtable, “Beyond the Neighborhood Stabilization Program: How Foreclosure Recovery Can Foster Sustainable Communities." The roundtable featured a panel discussion between Antonio Riley, the newly appointed midwest regional administrator for…
- Keepers and Seekers: The Next Mayor's Priorities for a Prosperous Metropolitan Region
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- Publication
- (3 MB)
- Jan 31, 2011
- MPC believes a healthy, prosperous region— and its core city—is competitive, equitable and sustainable. In the fall of 2010, we compiled a list of economic development, infrastructure and housing-related challenges the next mayor will face in achieving this goal. The following briefing…
Plan for Prosperity: 2011 Policy Objectives-
- MPC's Plan for Prosperity 2011 is our policy objectives guide for the year. Focusing on creating a more sustainable, equitable, and competitive region, this guide details MPC's recommendations on how to make our communities more livable for all of metropolitan Chicago's residents.
- Alternative Avenues: How Livable Communities Promote Health and Wellness
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- Listen to this Nov. 3, 2010, MPC roundtable forum about the effects of community and workplace design on public health, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.
More related multimedia »
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 Dept. 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
