Rockford Area YIMBY

06/22/2026

Sharing... Looking for more on where to find affordable or subsidized housing in one location? Try this new Illinois Pathways to Housing website to access almost all things housing and housing access:

Welcome to the Illinois Pathways to Housing site. Here you can find resources and information to help you connect with housing and related services throughout the state of Illinois.

06/20/2026

Happy Juneteenth!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1DiSdpa4Ry/?mibextid=wwXIfr

On Juneteenth, we honor the generations of Black Americans who fought for freedom, equality, and the promise of opportunity.

We also recognize that housing policy has long been used to segregate communities, exclude families, and limit access to opportunity.

As YIMBYs, we believe everyone deserves the freedom to live in a safe, affordable, and welcoming community. That's why we continue working to remove barriers to housing and build more abundant, inclusive neighborhoods for all.

Happy Juneteenth. ❤️🖤💚

06/09/2026

Trying to understand why the City of Rockford is short housing? Eyewitness News breaks it down.

https://www.mystateline.com/news/rockford-housing-shortage-explained-as-data-shows-supply-gap-and-housing-confusion/?fbclid=IwZnRzaASUNUdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeAraVvPwUbVNVmZAAZ53LdBGcj8EQtDzvqvP1FE1bf-PRYocT63kqhzP5l0M_aem_Og4eLQY1Wcm-_3d3eC5YqA

Since 2000, only about 2,300 housing structures have been built in Rockford, contributing to a limited supply of newer housing options.

05/20/2026

The University Hill housing development story broke yesterday! Rockford Area YIMBY will jump in, examine, the details, and share our position over the coming days as details unfold. Stay tuned.

https://www.rockrivercurrent.com/2026/05/university-hill-would-bring-300-plus-apartments-to-east-state-street-in-rockford/?fbclid=IwY2xjawR6kphleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFqVm9IZUpqYXd0MmhNR2U4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHovMoIQ90msza2Edezgyh3sheEEOqhykip5UDdnMPmiwonc5MppWdGP3rBia_aem_mp3n0aOlJsbAO6UlVlPyDg

By Kevin Haas Rock River Current Get our mobile app ROCKFORD — One of the last undeveloped plots along East State Street could become more than 300 apartments and commercial space for retail and restaurants. University Hill is planned for land just east of the Puri School of Business near the Rock...

05/20/2026

Did you know May is National Affordable Housing Month?

Rockford Area YIMBY, the PlatFORM Group, ZION Development, and Northwest Neighbors, all celebrate and promote quality affordable housing and complementary community development across the City of Rockford.

What better way to increase housing supply, lower housing costs, and improve neighborhoods than to have a strategy. The City of Rockford has such a strategy framework - highlighted in the photo. If interested in the full strategy - see link in the comments.

Now the only better path to increasing housing access is to follow that strategy. This is why Rockford Area YIMBY was born... for far too long we have some elected and appointed officials who speak or vote against facts, data, and research, often vote by fear of misinformation, or by listening to NIMBYs. They kill quality housing development(s).

For this month, and beyond, please join Rockford Area YIMBY in leadership and advocacy to help promote housing growth.

Housing growth, especially infill, lowers community costs (aka taxes), corrects the over pricing of homes and apartments, and helps create stable families and neighborhoods.

Please like and share!

05/20/2026

Attention YIMBYs - The PlatFORM Group has officially launched its promotion of the campaign to spotlight its video series* and bring added attention to the need to build. Build what? Housing of course!

As part of the campaign, the PlatFORM Group has these great signs to offer you (FREE) to place in your yard as a means to promote housing. If you would like one (Home not for sale or Every family deserves a home), or one of each, and you live here in City of Rockford, please DM me with your address and I will make sure you get it/them. Supplies are limited so please hurry.

The bottom of the sign has a QR code that brings interested parties to the video. *1st video in the comments - please share far and wide.

Also, we need 10 brave souls who don't mind a video camera over their shoulder as you place the sign in your yard. The video will help release the 2nd video in early June. Video won't capture your face or your home address, just placement.

I look forward to your messages and getting your sign(s) to you!

05/05/2026

Two interesting photos on housing affordability - 1) where Americans are priced out, and 2) who by occupation can afford a home. Both are by Even here in the City of Rockford, IL where we have the most affordable housing in the US and the state ranks near the middle, 71% of State of Illinois residents cannot afford to buy a new home. Link to article in comments.

05/02/2026

Check out Ron Clewer's Substack entitled, "Rockford Doesn’t Just Have a Housing Problem -It Has a Tools Problem"

This link send you to the more concise version, but also has a link to a much longer, data supported version for those who really want to dive into, "What if?"

https://open.substack.com/pub/ronaldclewer/p/rockford-doesnt-just-have-a-housing?r=2haxzt&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

05/02/2026

Call or write today!

The Illinois Senate is in session and needs to hear YOUR support for addressing the housing shortage. Ask your state senator today to support the .illinois.gov BUILD plan!

Use our action network page to call and show support for new homes TODAY: bit.ly/3OzxA2m