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Blue Island's LIHTC-Funded Affordable Housing: A Demographic Perspective
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Blue Island, Illinois, a city with a history dating to the 19th century, has Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing. The city's LIHTC inventory comprises 188 total units, with 107 designated as low-income units. Based on the estimated housing inventory of 8,397 units, LIHTC funded affordable housing represents approximately 2.24% of the city's housing stock.
Blue Island has received $1,371,071 in project tax credits for affordable housing through the LIHTC program. With two projects, this equates to an average of $685,536 in federal funding per project. The average federal funding per unit is $7,293. Blue Island holds 0.17% of the total state LIHTC funding, indicating a small share of Illinois' affordable housing resources.
The city's LIHTC funded affordable housing spans nearly two decades, with the first project, Meadowview Apts (Fairview), completed in 1993, and the most recent project, Senior Suites Of Blue Island, finished in 2010. The 2010s saw the completion of the largest LIHTC project in Blue Island.
The LIHTC inventory in Blue Island consists of a mix of unit types. There are 2 efficiencies, 117 one-bedroom units, and 69 two-bedroom units. This distribution suggests a focus on housing for smaller households and potentially seniors.
Over the past decade, Blue Island's population has decreased from 22,785 in 2010 to 21,916 in 2022. Despite this population decrease, the median income has increased from $45,036 in 2013 to $54,599 in 2022, indicating improving economic conditions for some residents.
The racial composition of Blue Island has remained relatively stable, with a slight increase in the Black population from 29% in 2013 to 32% in 2022, and a small decrease in the Hispanic population from 47% to 45% during the same period. The White population has remained steady at around 21-22%.
Blue Island's LIHTC funded affordable housing inventory provides housing options for low-income residents. The two projects, built in different decades, offer a mix of unit types that cater to various household sizes. Despite a slight population decline, the city's increasing median income and stable racial diversity underscore the ongoing importance of affordable housing options. The LIHTC program has played a role in supporting Blue Island's affordable housing needs, though there may be opportunities for further development to meet the estimated demand for low-income housing in the community.
