Lack Of Affordable Housing Blamed For Spike In Homelessness: Officials

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A lack in affordable housing is to blame for an increase in homelessness, officials in Lake County say.

Counties across the Chicago area, and U.S., are seeing an increase in people who are unable to pay for housing. Data from 2023 shows 85 percent of people who were homeless in Lake County were unhoused for the first time.

In addition, there's been a 75 percent increase in family homelessness, the Lake County News-Sun is reporting.

“The lack of affordable housing is the leading cause of homelessness in our county, especially for families,” said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart in recent weeks. “This has contributed to a dramatic rise in the number of families unable to find a place to live."

On Jan. 30, volunteers assisted with the 2025 Homeless Point-in-Time count, which is reported into the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Data from this count helps guide the work needed to effectively address homelessness not only in Lake County but across the country, according to a county news release.

The updated information regarding homelessness is expected to be released this spring.

Amid a competitive housing market, securing a rental has become increasingly hard. In a recent Patch.com article, realtors said as many as 100 people are competing for one rental.

Local renters are "feeling the squeeze" as their wages are not keeping pace with the rise in rental costs. Inflation coupled with a lack of inventory is making for a "tricky situation."

"Right now, one of the biggest challenges for affordability in McHenry’s rental market is the rising rent prices. With fewer homes for sale, more people are renting, which has driven up demand and, in turn, rent prices," Dawn Bremer, a real estate broker for Keller Williams, told Patch. "On top of that, wages just haven’t kept up with these price hikes, making it tough for many to find something affordable."

Those who do secure a rental are more likely to spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs. In McHenry County, around 26.4 percent of all households are considered cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing costs, according to housingstudies.org. For renter-occupied households, this figure rises to about 50.5 percent.

"These statistics highlight the significant financial strain many residents face when it comes to housing expenses," Bremer said.

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