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Affordable Housing in Mendota, Illinois: Three Decades of LIHTC Projects
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Mendota, Illinois, a small city with a population of 8,263 residents as of 2022, has a significant presence of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The city's affordable housing inventory comprises 72 units, all of which are designated as low-income. This represents approximately 2.3% of Mendota's estimated housing stock of 3,166 units.
The LIHTC program has provided Mendota with $1,005,169 in project tax credits for affordable housing. With four projects, this amounts to an average federal funding of $251,292 per project, or about $13,961 per unit. Mendota's share of the total state funding for LIHTC projects in Illinois is 0.12%.
Affordable housing has been a feature of Mendota for over 30 years. The first LIHTC-funded project, Country Meadows, was completed in 1988, while the most recent, Mendota Senior Housing Phase I, was finished in 2012. The 2000s were the most active period for affordable housing development, with three projects completed: Northline Terrace (2001), Westridge Apts (2002), and Mendota Senior Housing Phase I (2012).
The LIHTC-funded affordable housing in Mendota includes a variety of unit types: 1 efficiency unit, 27 one-bedroom units, 41 two-bedroom units, and 3 three-bedroom units. This distribution indicates a focus on accommodating smaller households and families.
Demographic trends over the past decade show a slight population decline in Mendota, from 8,751 in 2013 to 8,263 in 2022. Despite this decrease, the median income has increased from $60,866 in 2013 to $62,264 in 2022. This modest income growth may suggest a reduced demand for additional affordable housing units in recent years.
Racial demographics in Mendota have remained relatively stable. The white population has maintained a majority, with a slight fluctuation from 74% in 2013 to 71% in 2020, returning to 74% in 2022. The Hispanic population has varied, reaching a peak of 29% in 2019 before decreasing to 21% in 2022. These demographic changes, though minor, may influence future affordable housing needs in the city.
In conclusion, Mendota's LIHTC-funded affordable housing constitutes a small but important part of its housing inventory. Federal funding has enabled the creation of diverse housing options over three decades. While no new LIHTC projects have been developed in recent years, the existing units continue to serve low-income residents. The city's demographic trends, including a slight population decline and modest income growth, may be factors in the lack of recent affordable housing developments.
