Understanding Chicago’s Housing Crisis

Chicagoans are struggling to navigate the area’s competitive housing market. Renters and homeowners alike express concerns about affordability and availability and continue to look to local leaders for creative solutions. 

A recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll reveals: 

• Nearly half of Cook County residents, including 68% of area renters, do not live in reasonably affordable housing (i.e., spend more than 30% of their income on housing).
  • About the same number — 50% of all Cook County residents and 66% of local renters — are concerned about the housing situation in their area. 
• Four in 10 of those living in the City of Chicago support local proposals that would allow homeowners to add rental units to properties that are currently zoned for single-family residents.
  • Even more, 53% support proposals that would convert underutilized office spaces in the downtown area into multi-unit housing.

This survey was conducted online in the United States by The Harris Poll from September 12th, 2024 to September 26th, 2024 among 1,000 Cook County, IL adults, aged 18+. Figures have been weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions within the population. Respondents for this survey were selected from a pool of potential respondents who have agreed to participate in The Harris Poll’s online research.