The Rent is Too Damn High: Chicago Housing Development Trek

Illinois faces a critical challenge: building 227,000 new units in the next five years to keep up with demand. Can Chicago play a role in rising to meet this challenge? How?  

Join the Institute of Politics for an in-depth exploration of the past, present, and future of Chicago’s housing crisis. We’ll start the morning with a roundtable discussion featuring local policy experts from the Chicago Housing Authority and Housing Choice Partners of Illinois to unpack the complexities of housing development, including the role that government and policymakers can play. The discussion will be followed by a trip to the National Public Housing Museum for lunch and an interactive tour! 

Breakfast, lunch, transportation, and museum admittance covered by IOP. RSVP now!

Date: Friday, October 24, 2025

Time: 10 am - 2:30 pm CT

Location: Institute of Politics, followed by a trip to the National Public Housing Museum (transportation provided)

Schedule:

10:00-10:30 arrive and eat breakfast at IOP

10:30-11:30 expert panel with guests from Chicago Housing Museum and Housing Choice Partners of Illinois

11:30-12:15 transit to National Public Housing Museum

12:15-1:15 private tour of National Public Housing Museum apartments

1:15-1:50 lunch and discussion at National Public Housing Museum

1:50-2:30 travel time back to IOP

If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact bleppala@uchicago.edu.