Those interested in learning how to use the Toolkit are encouraged to view streaming video of an instructional webinar provided by the partners.

As the shifting housing market alters people's preferences—and vice-versa—many communities are struggling to understand if the housing they have will meet the needs of residents, both now and in the future.

The Homes for a Changing Region process enables municipal leaders to understand demand and supply dynamics for housing in their communities and develop long-term housing policy plans based on sound research and input from their residents. These plans aim to create a balanced mix of housing, serve current and future populations, and enhance livability.

Homes for a Changing Region is a good fit for any municipality grappling with important housing questions, including: 

• Can existing residents afford to stay here in years to come?

• What is my community's capacity to accommodate future residents?

• Will my community's current housing stock meet the demands of future residents? 

This toolkit provides a step-by-step guide to the Homes process, which has been tested and refined during the development of housing policy plans completed for over 30 communities. The toolkit builds the capacity of local municipalities to develop and implement their own Homes for a Changing Region plans to meet their housing needs.

The toolkit includes the following resources:

• Process Guide
  A guide to the overall Homes for a Changing Region process.

  • Example project scope

  • Example project timeline (GANTT)

  • Example recommendations memo
     

• Data Analysis Guide and Model
  A supplementary guide to the data analysis model used in the Homes process, along with the model itself. (Please sign up below to be notified when updated versions of the Homes data analysis model are available in the future.) 

  • ​Data Analysis Guide - CMAP region

    • ​Homes data analysis model - CMAP region (2 Excel files in zip format)

  • Data Analysis Guide - ​Illinois (for use outside of CMAP region)

    • ​Homes data analysis model - Illinois (2 Excel files in zip format)

  • Community Data Snapshots with more demographic, economic, transportation, and land use data about all municipalities and Chicago Community Areas in the region.

  • GO TO 2040 Socioeconomic Forecasts of population, households, and employment by municipality.
     

• Outreach Guide and Materials
  A supplementary guide to the public engagement approach used in the Homes process, along with all materials needed for workshops and other outreach activities.

• Recommendations Guide
  A supplemental guide that thematically groups a number of the recommendations from previous Homes reports and the case studies found in Home Grown (see below), so that users can understand where such strategies have been previously used.

• Home Grown
  Case studies of successful housing policies, developments, programs, and financing strategies, explaining how they work, why they were successful, and how they were funded.

The Homes for a Changing Region Toolkit was created by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, and Metropolitan Planning Council. These resources were made possible by funds awarded by the National Foreclosure Settlement, distributed by the office of the Illinois Attorney General.

Contact Jonathan Burch (jburch@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8690) to learn more.