The housing crisis isn’t just an urban problem, it’s hitting communities across IL-17. Over 35% of renters in our district spend more than 30% of their income on rent, and Illinois ranks among the top states for mortgage foreclosures. A home is the foundation for work, school, and health, and when that foundation is shaky, everything else can crumble. I believe housing is a human right and a public good, not a luxury or a speculative asset. Too many families are still one financial setback away from losing their home. A safe, affordable place to live should be a basic guarantee for every family, not a privilege for the few. When housing costs force people to choose between paying rent and buying medicine, or when young families give up hope of owning a home, our entire community suffers. We need bold action to ensure everyone can find a stable, affordable home and build a better life.

I will fight to: 

• Repeal the Faircloth Amendment and launch a massive affordable housing boom. It’s long past time to lift the ban on building new public housing. I’ll push for a New Deal–scale housing program to construct and rehabilitate affordable homes including public housing, nonprofit housing, and community land trusts that stay affordable permanently. We can create jobs and ensure everyone has a place to live, all at once. 

• Invest in rural and small-town housing. In many small communities, housing stock is aging or inadequate. I’ll secure funding to upgrade critical utilities such as water, sewer, and broadband and to build or refurbish quality housing in rural Illinois. Your zip code shouldn’t doom you to substandard housing. Let’s make our small towns more livable and attractive for the next generation. 

• Defend renters rights. I support a National Tenants Bill of Rights to protect renters from unjust evictions and outrageous rent hikes. We should encourage reasonable limits on rent increases and fund eviction prevention and legal aid programs so that one missed paycheck doesn’t spiral into homelessness. No one should be thrown out on the street because they fell on hard times. 

• Support first-time and first-generation homebuyers. Owning a home remains a key path to generational wealth, but too many working families, many of color have been locked out. I’ll champion down payment assistance and federal grants for first-generation homebuyers, and work with HUD to expand access to affordable mortgages. If you’ve worked hard and saved responsibly, we’ll help you buy that starter home and put down roots. 

• Promote inclusive zoning and a mix of housing options. I will incentivize communities to adopt zoning laws that allow a true mix of housing types from apartment buildings to duplexes to in-law suites. Breaking down exclusionary zoning will increase housing supply, lower costs, and create more integrated, vibrant neighborhoods. 

• Prevent foreclosures and keep families in their homes. I’ll fight for robust foreclosure prevention programs, from funding housing counselors who help homeowners restructure loans, to temporary foreclosure moratoriums during economic crises. We need emergency support funds to assist families facing job loss or medical bills so they can stay current on their mortgages. Nobody wins when a family loses their home; we must do more to intervene before it’s too late. 

Housing is about dignity, stability, and the freedom to plant roots and thrive. I will work tirelessly to ensure every family in IL-17 can afford to live securely and decently, whether they rent or own, in a city or on a farm.