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
- New year, big plans at MPC
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- Just weeks into a new decade, MPC staff already has plans – big and small – for how their work will help improve the metropolitan region in 2010.
Kristi DeLaurentiis This year my resolution is to help foster linkages and promote collaboration between MPC and its partners throughout the…
MPC's new office earns LEED Gold certification-
- MPC is proud to announce its office located in the historic Marquette Building has earned the designation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold for Commercial Interiors. The first office in the Marquette Building to be LEED certified, MPC’s office is also one of the…
- Federal incentives fueling Illinois progress
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- 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…
- REALTORS, National Housing Conference, MPC and partners highlight model housing initiatives and new opportunities
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- In Philadelphia on Nov. 19, 2009, and in Boise, Idaho, on Dec. 3, 2009, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and National Housing Conference hosted events focused on innovative employer-assisted housing (EAH) efforts, model partnerships, and new opportunities to link to the Sustainable…
MPC by the numbers, 2009-
- From jobless rates to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, from Illinois’ budget gap to foreclosure trends, news reports in 2009 were awash with gloomy figures. It’s been a challenging year, and the numbers don’t lie.
Yet, fortunately, they rarely tell the whole…
Multimedia
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…
National Employer-Assisted Housing Project Fact Sheet-
- Publication
- (131 KB)
- July 8, 2009
- MPC provides assistance to organizations and communities around the country to build strong employer-assisted housing initiatives and leverage business engagement in housing solutions.
Employer-Assisted Housing in Chicago Brochure: An Investment That Pays Many Times Over-
- Publication
- (880 KB)
- January 1, 2009
- Employer-assisted housing (EAH) helps employees live near work through down payment or rental assistance, or other types of incentives. Read this brochure t find out how your company can benefit from employer-assisted housing.
Understanding Employer-Assisted Housing: A Guidebook for Employers-
- Publication
- (1 MB)
- January 1, 2009
- Employer-assisted housing (EAH) is a term used to describe a variety of housing benefits employers can offer to help their workforce afford homes. An EAH program can be a costeffective way to help improve employee recruitment, retention, productivity and morale, thereby improving the…
- Back to the Drawing Board? Revisiting local housing strategies during the market meltdown
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- Following the dramatic downturn in the housing market, local advocates and policymakers gathered to re-assess the primary housing policy initiatives they relied upon for many years. Suburban workforce housing, the Chicago Housing Authority Plan for Transformation, and employer-assisted housing were…
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 Department of Community Development
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
The F.B. Heron Foundation
The Harris Family Foundation
Ford Foundation
Legacy Foundation
The Northern Trust Company
Polk Bros. Foundation
Surdna Foundation
