Chicago City Wire

Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Housing have released the draft for the 2025 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP), a sizable portion of the city's affordable housing resources. Unveiled on April 15, the QAP outlines evaluation criteria and processes for awarding Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), which are instrumental in affordable housing development. LIHTC, a federal initiative, encourages public-private partnerships by awarding tax credits in return for investments in low-income housing.

The draft is accompanied by a memo detailing upcoming changes to the Architectural Technical Standards Manual (ATSM). This document specifies design and contracting standards for city-funded housing projects.

Public interaction is encouraged for finalizing the QAP, with comments accepted until May 15, 2025, and a virtual public meeting scheduled for May 6, 2025. The Illinois Housing Council will also provide an opportunity for developer feedback on April 24, 2025.

Lissette Castañeda, Housing Commissioner, emphasized the importance of the QAP as a tool for creating affordable housing across Chicago. “The Chicago Department of Housing strives to create affordable housing opportunities across all of our 77 communities,” she said. “The QAP is one of the most important tools we utilize to accomplish this, and we look forward to finalizing it in partnership with community stakeholders.”

Updates to the QAP and ATSM are influenced by the Johnson Administration's 2023 Cut the Tape initiative, which aims to streamline affordable housing by reducing administrative obstacles. The revised QAP introduces clear review timelines and prioritizes projects meeting affordability and equity objectives.

The ATSM updates aim to modernize construction guidelines to prevent delays. A complete draft is expected in June, with adjustments to contracting procedures.

The draft of the 2025 QAP and ATSM memo can be accessed online.