Housing & Community Development Committee Meeting 5-19-2026

The City of Evanston Housing & Community Development Committee met on May 19, 2026, to discuss the 2026-2027 Housing for All work plan and related housing initiatives. The committee reviewed updates to the work plan, including new council-added initiatives such as collaboration with Northwestern University and local school districts, vacancy tax considerations, and dormitory-style housing models. Members discussed the importance of evaluating the costs and impacts of new programs before implementation, with an emphasis on iterative review and data tracking. The committee also considered the creation of a mayor-appointed task force to accelerate and improve the quality of housing program development and implementation, alongside a working group focused on building code improvements to streamline development processes. The committee unanimously approved forwarding the work plan and the recommendation to create a task force to the City Council for final approval. Additionally, the committee approved a substantial amendment to reflect the city’s actual 2026 federal funding allocations, including Community Development Block Grant, HOME, and Emergency Solutions Grant funds, totaling over $300,000 more than initially estimated. This amendment will proceed as a resolution to the City Council.