Tag: Housing

Urbana City Council postpones vote on West Main Street housing project

The Urbana City Council is expected to take a final vote at a special meeting on July 6.

Illinois asking for residents’ input on housing concerns

Illinois Housing Development Authority is in the process of drafting their 2027 Housing Blueprint.

Contentious housing project in Urbana divides city council members, residents

During a Monday Committee of the Whole meeting, the city considered a developer proposal to build a four-story apartment building on West Main Street just north of Boneyard Creek.

Homelessness is a growing problem in Champaign County. A group of local organizations aims to help

The Champaign County Continuum of Service Providers to the Homeless is creating a strategic plan to end homelessness, in partnership with the national nonprofit Homebase. Local officials say the goal is functional-zero homelessness, where homelessness is rare, brief and one-time.

Budzinski intervenes in local housing dispute on behalf of low-income residents

In late August, after months of conversations with residents, Budzinski approached HUD with concerns, requesting information about the frequency of inspections and compliance with HUD standards.

New Federal Rules Could Put Formerly Unhoused People Back Out on The Streets Across Illinois

The Trump administration is dramatically cutting the money available to help pay for housing for people in need, including those with mental illness or disabilities.

U of I students say some leasing companies scam them out of their security deposits

Thousands of students at the University of Illinois of Urbana-Champaign live in apartments. Some say they’re being taken advantage of by the leasing company University Group.

Solar for All would have powered emergency housing in a Midwest town. Then the EPA cut the funds

Municipalities and nonprofits across the country may have to abandon planned solar energy projects after the Environmental Protection Agency announced it was terminating a $7 billion grant program to expand solar access.

How Trump’s tariffs could threaten construction and housing affordability in Champaign-Urbana

The Trump administration has rolled out tariffs that affect a wide variety of goods and industries — including home construction. The situation is rapidly evolving, and some worry all the uncertainty and supply chain disruptions could drive up housing prices.

Three people sit at the front of the room, while two people sit facing them.

Champaign City Council votes unanimously on plans to identify and address housing concerns

Currently, the city relies on county-wide data compiled yearly in the Consolidated Annual Action Plan to identify its housing needs. But this isn’t as effective for a city like Champaign, said Lauren Weber, Champaign’s community development specialist who co-wrote the proposal for this study.

A person walks through an arrangement of beds in a room.

Voters will determine the future of Strides — Champaign County’s only low-barrier shelter

Champaign County’s only low-barrier shelter, Strides, is at risk of closing at the end of the year. Voters in this year’s election on April 1 will weigh in on a property tax increase that would allow Strides to continue to provide shelter and social services.