Housing has long been a symbol of the American Dream. For many Black Chicagoans, however, that dream has been constrained by redlining, land contracts, predatory lending, and other practices that limited access to homeownership and the wealth it can create.
That history is why organizations like the Chicago Urban League have focused for generations on helping residents purchase and remain in their homes. From Homan Square to Pullman and Bronzeville to South Shore, organizations are working to create and preserve housing in communities that have historically been denied investment.
Community-based organizations have long advocated for access to safe and affordable housing, initially in the context of landmark civil rights and fair housing protections. Today, that work includes creating new housing, maintaining existing homes, and helping families preserve properties passed down through generations. It involves nonprofit organizations such as IFF and Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS), financial institutions such as BMO and Wells Fargo, and government partners including the City of Chicago, the Village of Maywood, and Cook County.
To make these efforts more strategic and evidence-based, the Chicago Urban League’s Research and Policy Center is partnering with the Institute for Racial Justice at Loyola University Chicago and other organizations to study the housing conditions and needs of Chicago’s communities. With support from Airbnb, this research is building a data-driven foundation for identifying where different interventions may have the greatest impact.
The research will also draw on expertise from across the city. We are forming an advisory committee of researchers and housing experts who will provide ongoing guidance throughout the project. At key stages, we will convene a broader group of researchers, practitioners, and community-based experts through a series of intimate convenings. Participants will review the methodology, examine emerging findings, and identify questions that require further exploration. This process is designed to strengthen the work and allow the evidence to guide the story, conclusions, and recommendations that emerge.
Building wealth is especially important to the Chicago Urban League. In the 2025 State of Black Chicago, we cited research from the New School showing median net wealth of zero for Black families, compared with $28,000 for Mexican families and $200,000 for white families. Narrowing this gap requires strategies responsive to the distinct conditions, assets, and pressures within individual neighborhoods.
Creating new housing matters. Preserving existing homes matters too, especially properties passed down through families. Other important strategies include developing credit options that support sustainable homeownership and introducing financial education early. These efforts are most effective when we understand what is happening in each community: the assets already present, the barriers residents face, and the market forces shaping change.
Our research partnership will help turn that understanding into action. The Chicago Urban League is honored to work alongside organizations such as NHS, IFF, and Airbnb to direct resources more effectively, strengthen homeownership, and help more Chicago families build and retain wealth.
