Urban Environmentalists Illinois Urban Environmentalists Illinois
Urban Environmentalists Illinois

We advocate for housing abundance and sustainable, inclusive cities in Illinois.

Become a member

Subscribe

Learn about the pro-housing movement and how you can make housing more affordable near you!

twitter
instagram
facebook

The Problem

Chicago is in the midst of a housing crisis. Costs are going up because we don’t have enough homes for everyone, but we can solve this problem by focusing on 4 things:

Our Priorities

4 Flats


Upzone Chicago

Chicago's 4 flats are an iconic and affordable housing type. Sadly, these homes are banned in about two-thirds of the city due to zoning laws. We advocate for reforms so that four-flats can be built in every neighborhood. More homes = lower prices.

Development Photo

Support Development

We advocate for housing in all forms from shelters to market rate apartments. We do this by attending community meetings, either in person or online, to voice our approval. We also show our support by signing petitions and meeting with our elected officials.

ADU3

Legalize Coach Houses (ADUs)

Coach houses, or Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), offer affordable housing in basements and backyards. They support multigenerational living and provide extra income to help low-income homeowners and retirees avoid displacement. We want to make it easier for people to build ADUs on their own land.

Parking Lot 3


Eliminate Parking Minimums

Parking mandates require set amounts of parking, costing $30,000 to $50,000 per spot. This raises housing costs, limits supply, and drives up rents. Excessive parking reduces density, walkability, and public transit use which worsens traffic congestion. We want to eliminate these arbitrary rules and make it easier to build in Chicago.

Current Projects

A list of our current projects and how you can help!

Event Calendar

Community Meeting and Event Schedule

Get Involved

Take action

Contact officials, sign petitions, and take other action to push for change.

Current actions

Attend an event

Come to one of our social events, educational events, or chapter meetings.

Upcoming events

Become a member

Support our work for housing abundance, and join our online community.

Join

Our Solutions

Policies we support

Legalize Housing

Allow more housing in every neighborhood, especially historically affluent and exclusionary neighborhoods, removing barriers to both subsidized affordable and market rate housing

Fix Incentives

Reform structures that incentivize communities to say no to new homes, including tax systems and car centric transportation systems.

Streamline Permitting

Make housing permits fast and fair, removing arbitrary barriers to both subsidized affordable and market rate housing.

Increase Housing Stability

Enact policies that support current residents having stable housing choices amid growth.

Fund Affordable Housing

Increase funding for subsidized affordable housing through a wide variety of mechanisms, including direct subsidies.