While continuous efforts to address the community's affordable housing shortages and housing instability continue, the Quad Cities Housing Council (QCHC) is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Founded in 1999, QCHC is the resource development arm of the Quad Cities Housing Cluster, serving bi-state entities as the local Housing Trust Fund. The QCHC has continuously partnered with local organizations and community members and has awarded more than $30 million to agencies throughout the Quad Cities.
To celebrate this milestone, QCHC will host its anniversary event on Thursday, Nov. 14 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Moline's Mercado on 5th. The event will be open to the public with light refreshments, live music and a cash bar with free drink tickets available to the first 100 guests.
The event will also celebrate the conclusion of the year-long "Housing Matters QC" campaign. Director of Quad Cities Housing Council Leslie Kilgannon said the campaign has continued to bring attention to housing insecurity after the community's awareness increased during the COVID lockdowns.
"While we have been struggling as a community and as a country for, I would say, 30 years with needing more affordable housing, the pandemic really broke it wide open. So there's a greater awareness," Kilgannon said. "Unfortunately, that also means there's been greater suffering."
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development defines affordable housing as occupants spending no more than 30% of their gross income on housing costs and utilities. Yet, the Quad Cities Housing Cluster reported that over 76% of Quad Cities households living with extremely low incomes are spending more on their housing costs, with more than a 30% decrease in affordable housing options in the region.
"I push back on the idea or the suggestion that housing that's affordable for people at lower incomes is anything but an asset to the community," Kilgannon said. "No matter your income, everyone deserves a safe, decent, affordable place to live."
As the council looks forward to its future within the community, they are continuing to focus on its 10-year vision established in 2020: "Silos to Solutions."
The plan addresses six steps to improving the community's current housing crisis.
By 2030, QCHC hopes to make progress in producing affordable housing units, preserve 95% of existing affordable units through maintenance and preservation and protect current tenants. QCHC also plans to continue partnership programs, provide services to help the community maintain housing stability and increase the local Housing Trust Fund to provide $1 million annually.
"I think we need to stay focused but positive," Kilgannon said. "I don't want people to be overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem because we have a plan."
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