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Affordable Housing in Wilmington, Illinois: Two Decades of LIHTC Development
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Wilmington, Illinois, has a total of 146 affordable housing units, with 108 designated as low-income units through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. Based on the 2022 population of 7,416 and an estimated 2,841 housing units, LIHTC-funded affordable housing comprises approximately 5.1% of the city's estimated housing inventory.
The city has received $1,079,981 in project tax credits through the LIHTC program, distributed across approximately 4 projects. This translates to an average of $269,995 in federal funding per project and about $7,397 per unit. Wilmington's share of the total state LIHTC funding is 0.13%, indicating a relatively small portion of Illinois' overall affordable housing investment.
Wilmington's first LIHTC project, Wilmington Riverview Apts II, was completed in 1992, while the most recent project, Wilmington Senior Housing Phase II, was finished in 2011. This span of nearly two decades demonstrates a consistent, if modest, commitment to affordable housing development in the city. Two projects were completed in the 1990s, and two in the 2000s.
The LIHTC projects in Wilmington primarily consist of one-bedroom units (133) and two-bedroom units (13), suggesting a focus on housing for smaller households or individuals.
Wilmington's population has shown a gradual decline over the past decade, decreasing from 7,680 in 2018 to 7,416 in 2022. The median income has fluctuated, increasing from $60,275 in 2018 to $64,758 in 2022. The racial composition has remained relatively stable, with the white population consistently representing around 88-90% of the total, and the Hispanic population maintaining about 8% throughout this period.
The absence of new LIHTC projects in the last decade may be related to the declining population trend and the relatively stable income levels, potentially indicating a reduced need for additional affordable housing units.
In summary, Wilmington's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory represents a small but significant portion of its housing stock. The city maintained a steady, if modest, development of affordable housing over two decades, focusing on one-bedroom units. While LIHTC projects cover about 5.1% of the estimated housing inventory, the city's demographic trends, including a declining population and stable income levels, may have influenced the lack of new projects in recent years. The racial composition has remained largely unchanged, with a predominantly white population and a consistent Hispanic minority.
