Illinois Housing Action Research Project (IHARP)

IHARP was a partnership project project of the Voorhees Center, Housing Action Illinois and Latino Policy Forum (formerly Latinos United).

What was IHARP? IHARP was the first comprehensive database of assisted units in the city of Chicago and the entire state of Illinois, including housing owned and managed by private and non-profit developers. The database contains information about the developments including number of units, location, sponsoring agency, developer, management companies, rent levles and funding sources.

Why is IHARP necessary? There have been recent and dramatic changes in federal housing policy. These changes have impacted the city of Chicago more than any other city in the United States. Public housing units are being demolished with no understanding of whether there is sufficient housing for the people being displaced. New developments are being built without information regarding whether there are currently enough accessible/ adaptable units to meet the needs of people with disabilities. Neither HUD, the city of Chicago, nor the state of Illinois have accurate lists of the housing developments that they have funded. Nor do any of these entities keep track of the housing projects supported by others. Every day, policies regarding assisted housing are made without this crucial information. This affects many aspects of housing development, including the allocation of resources based on need; the determination of where new developments are located; the determination of targeted beneficiaries; the permission to sell or demolish existing assisted housing.

How is the information for IHARP was collected? Data was initially collected from the Freedom of Information Act process. More recently, government agencies were asked to provide the data electronically. The government agencies have been cooperative in this process. The capacity of the IHARP database increased by focusing on a particular housing programs.

How was IHARP used? The database provided the needed information to increase the capacity of community groups and others to impact housing decisions and policies at the local, state, and national level. If you are a person currently in need of subsidized housing, please visit the City of Chicago Department of Housing (DOH) website, which contains a listing of all subsidized properties funded by DOH within the city. In addition the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has a searchable listing of all properties they have funded throughout the state.

IHARP Publications:

Moving or Moving Up?: Understanding Residential Mobility for Housing Choice Voucher Families in Illinois
The Illinois Assisted Housing Research Project (IHARP) report, published in 2011, assesses the realities of porting in Illinois. Analyzing an eight-year period from 2000 to 2007, this report found that fewer families ported out of Chicago than is commonly believed. Additionally, the report details 17 recommended actions to improve the Housing Choice Voucher program for assisted families.

Are We Home Yet? Creating Real Choice for Housing Choice Voucher Families in Chicago
The Illinois Assisted Housing Research Project (IHARP) report, published in 2010, finds that the majority of the Chicago Housing Authority's 35,000 Housing Choice Voucher households continue to reside in predominately African-American, poverty concentrated communities in Chicago. These communities, which continue to struggle with high rates of unemployment, foreclosures, and above average rates of crime and poor health, do not provide real opportunity for voucher families. The report recommends that the Chicago Housing Authority, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the City of Chicago, housing advocates, and public officials work together towards a comprehensive agenda to advance housing mobility and real opportunities for voucher families, as well as to strategically invest in the communities where voucher families currently live.

Locating Affordable and Accessible Housing for People with Disabilities in Illinois
The Illinois Assisted Housing Research Project (IHARP) report, published in 2007, examines accessibility of subsidized units and provides an estimate of units statewide that have accessible/adaptable features. Recommendations are given on how to diminish the disconnect between accessible units and the people that need them. The report is also available in accessible format, by calling the Center at 312-996-6336.

HOME Program IHARP Report
The Illinois Assisted Housing Research Project (IHARP) report, published in 2004, provides and independent evaluation of the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and the use of HOME funds in Illinois. The report focuses primarily on the types for projects that have been completed, who have benefited and the program's ability to meet diverse local housing needs.

Senior Housing on Chicago's Southwest Side: With a Focus on Latino Seniors
A Market Feasibility Study Prepared for The Resurrection Project (TRP) in 2004. The report assesses the feasibility of developing housing and specifically an affordable supportive living facility (SLF) for seniors on Chicago's southwest side.

Affordable Housing Cooperatives: Conditions and Prospects in Chicago
Prepared for Chicago Mutual Housing Network (CMHN) in 2004. Report assesses conditions and prospects of the affordable housing cooperative model in Chicago and includes strategies, which if aggressively pursued, will gradually elevate the place of affordable housing cooperatives as an affordable housing option.

Evaluation of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program
Illinois IHARP Report, 2002. Includes analysis of the affordability of Tax Credit projects, differences in projects across the State, the role of non-profit developers and highlights the beginning of affordability expiration of Tax Credit projects in 2002. The report is available by calling the Center at 312-996-6336.

IHARP Annual Report
The Illinois Assisted Housing Research Project (IHARP) report, published in 1999, highlights the affordability expiration of Project-Based Section 8 developments in Illinois as well as the accomplishments of Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund.