Illinois Housing Development Authority, LISC Launch New Program to Support Emerging Housing Developers

CHICAGO - The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) launched the Next Generation Capacity Building Initiative (Next Gen), a new program designed to expand the talent pipeline and increase diversity within the housing development field and related industries. Next Gen will provide training and technical assistance to expand access to pre-development financing and housing resources administered by the state, with a focus on reducing barriers to entry for developers of color in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. This joint initiative between IHDA and LISC is part of the Authority's continuing efforts to support the capacity and growth of a diverse pool of affordable housing developers in Illinois. Applications from Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) developers seeking to participate in the Next Gen training program can be found here.

"Here in Illinois, we believe every person deserves a roof over their head and a place to call home—and our affordable housing developers are working to achieve just that," said Governor JB Pritzker. "As we focus on equitable opportunity in the housing industry, the Next Gen program promises support for BIPOC developers that have been historically underrepresented in this field. Thanks to the hard work of IDHA and LISC, we're addressing these disparities, so that our talented developers better reflect the many communities that make up Illinois."

"Affordable and equitable housing is a necessity for all Illinoisans to thrive. Eliminating systemic barriers to housing serves all of our communities," said Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. "Our administration is proud of the diverse workforce throughout Illinois, and this new initiative provides that workforce with the resources to live and be well."

LIHTC has long been the primary engine behind the development of affordable housing and provides most of the capital available to developers of affordable housing each year. However, the technical knowledge, high cost of entry, and relationships required to develop tax credit properties have historically made it challenging for new developers, and particularly developers led by BIPOC, to access this resource. The Next Gen initiative seeks to address this disparity by lowering the systematic barriers BIPOC developers encounter in three key ways.

First, an in-depth training program will be developed and delivered to up to 15 program cohorts. This will include a 160-hour curriculum delivered by LISC on affordable housing development and housing tax credits, with a special focus on IHDA's tax credit programs and processes. LISC will also coordinate networking opportunities for participants to connect with seasoned industry professionals.

Second, upon completion of the training program, developers will be eligible to apply for financing under a pre-development loan fund, funded with Next Gen funds provided by IHDA and administered by LISC, to support the pre-construction and planning costs necessary to establish project design, scope, site control, and other early costs.

Third, project-specific technical assistance will be provided to each BIPOC developer or development team who receives a loan from the pre-development loan fund. The technical assistance will be curated to participants' specific needs and will include tracking milestones of program participants and their development projects.

"The Next Gen program will support a talented but underrepresented group of developers that have historically faced higher barriers to participation in state and federal programs," IHDA Executive Director Kristin Faust said. "IHDA believes that greater diversity among the state's development partners will lead to more inclusive outcomes for residents and greater community engagement in the developments we fund, and we are grateful to partner with LISC in this innovative approach that will increase access to key financial and technical resources that have been out of reach for many."

"Through this groundbreaking program IHDA has taken a significant step towards creating a more equitable and diverse future in the affordable housing development field," said Meghan Harte, Senior Executive Director of LISC. "Next Gen combines comprehensive training, tailored technical assistance and critical pre-development resources to empower BIPOC developers to succeed in accessing LIHTC awards. LISC is excited to be a partner in fostering a more inclusive landscape where everyone has the opportunity to contribute to the growth and vitality of our communities."

The launch of the Next Gen initiative builds on several steps taken by IHDA to increase diversity among affordable housing developers participating in the state's LIHTC program. These include introducing incentives for having a BIPOC-led or BIPOC-governed firm on the development team, as well as additional incentives for projects demonstrating proactive racial equity work related to development planning processes. In IHDA's most recent LIHTC application round, 100 percent of approved applications had BIPOC participation on the development team.

"The Next Gen program is a vital step forward in our efforts to build a more inclusive and equitable housing landscape in Illinois," said State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago). "By supporting a diverse group of housing developers with training and financing, we are opening the door to new opportunities and expanded access to affordable housing."

"While we have seen much progress in creating more equitable opportunities for underrepresented developers and entrepreneurs, it's apparent more strides must be made to level the playing field," said State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago). "The Next Gen program is a positive step toward empowering current and future BIPOC developers for decades to come. A more diverse development industry benefits everyone with more jobs, competition and capacity."

LISC will be hosting two informational webinars at to provide additional details about Next Gen and answer any questions about initiative. They will be held at:

"I am proud of the state's latest effort to diversify our pool of affordable housing providers," said State Representative Will Davis (D-East Hazel Crest). "Next Gen will strengthen our affordable housing programs, invigorate communities of color and strengthen diverse businesses by helping them increase their capacity throughout the state."

"Illinoisans have a fundamental right to roofs over their heads. However, far too often, housing costs are prohibitively high, especially in the BIPOC communities," said State Representative Mary Beth Canty (D-Arlington Heights). "Expanding affordable housing development initiatives to include more opportunities for those communities to take part in creating this infrastructure is an invaluable step towards equity in Illinois."

Applications will be accepted today through 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. More information on the application process, participant eligibility, and program details will be available here.

housing units for residents of Illinois.