How housing insecurity is affecting Chicagoans

Unhoused people in Chicago — A Night Ministry case manager checks on people living in tents on Lower Wacker Drive, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. The Illinois Supreme Court declined to take up a challenge to a Chicago referendum on whether to increase a tax to support homelessness prevention programming.

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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons

How housing insecurity is affecting Chicagoans

A WBEZ analysis finds nearly half of Chicagoans are paying over 30% of their income on household items like rent and utilities.

A Night Ministry case manager checks on people living in tents on Lower Wacker Drive, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. The Illinois Supreme Court declined to take up a challenge to a Chicago referendum on whether to increase a tax to support homelessness prevention programming.

Ashlee Rezin

By Brenda Ruiz

Affordable housing advocates say there’s little room for many Chicagoans to pay for basic necessities, put money in savings or build emergency funds. In addition, they say living paycheck to paycheck puts households at a higher risk of incurring debt and facing eviction, which can cause issues for renters down the line.

Reset learns more about the various factors contributing to housing insecurity in Chicago.

GUESTS: Alden Loury, WBEZ data projects editor

Sophie Sherry, Chicago Sun-Times staff reporter