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Affordable Housing in Justice: LIHTC Impact on Suburban Chicago Community
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Justice, Illinois, has a notable presence of affordable housing supported by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. The city's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory comprises 274 total units, with 263 designated as low-income units. Based on the estimated housing inventory of 4,961 units for the city's 2022 population, LIHTC-funded affordable housing represents approximately 5.5% of the city's housing stock.
Justice has received $502,244 in project tax credits through the LIHTC program. With one project, this translates to an average federal funding of $502,244 per project and $1,833 per unit. The city holds 0.06% of the total state LIHTC funding, indicating a relatively small share of Illinois' overall affordable housing investment.
The LIHTC-funded affordable housing in Justice dates back to 2003, with the completion of the Oaks of Willow Hill project. This development has been providing affordable housing options to the community for nearly two decades.
The Oaks of Willow Hill project offers a range of unit types to accommodate various household sizes. The breakdown includes 99 one-bedroom units, 94 two-bedroom units, and 81 three-bedroom units. This distribution suggests an effort to cater to different family compositions within the low-income population.
Over the past decade, Justice has experienced demographic shifts that may relate to its affordable housing needs. The population has remained relatively stable, with a slight increase from 12,721 in 2013 to 12,948 in 2022. Median income has shown an overall upward trend, rising from $54,567 in 2013 to $59,903 in 2022, which could indicate a changing economic landscape for residents.
Racial demographics have also evolved. The white population has decreased from 65% in 2013 to 55% in 2022, while the Black population has increased from 17% to 20%, and the Hispanic population has grown from 13% to 19%. This diversification of the community may influence future affordable housing needs and strategies.
Justice's LIHTC-funded affordable housing, while comprising a small portion of the city's estimated housing stock, provides an important resource for low-income residents. The Oaks of Willow Hill project, completed in 2003, offers a mix of unit sizes to accommodate various household needs. As the city's demographics continue to shift, with increasing diversity and rising median incomes, ongoing assessment of affordable housing needs will be crucial to ensure that the community's changing requirements are met.
