On September 18, 2024, the original Accountable Housing and Anti-Discrimination Waitlist Ordinance (AHAD) was referred to committee. On September 24, 2025, it was still being “Held in Committee.” Then on May 13, 2026 — after nearly TWO YEARS — the ordinance was officially “Substituted.” And that change matters. The ORIGINAL ordinance directly stated its purpose was to: “connect vacancies in affordable housing to households in need” “create transparent waiting lists” “close the 120,000 unit affordable housing gap” and “protect human life.” It also included actual accountability measures like: • maintaining a centralized waitlist portal • requiring applicants to receive confirmation within 14 days • requiring waitlist position updates • requiring estimated wait times • requiring units to be listed centrally • vacancy tracking standards • occupancy requirements • vacant unit turnaround standards The substitute ordinance changed the proposal into a “Centralized Listing Portal Working Group Ordinance.” Instead of implementing many of these systems, it now primarily creates a WORKING GROUP to “explore the feasibility” of creating a portal and provide “recommendations.” After nearly two years, the proposal shifted from direct accountability requirements to discussions, recommendations and feasibility studies. And there has still been no clear public explanation for WHY such a major substitution happened. Meanwhile people in Chicago are still: • waiting years for housing • struggling to find available units • facing hidden waitlists • trying to navigate fragmented systems • and messaging strangers online because they feel out of options A temporary pilot and working group was never the full vision people originally supported. We still want the ORIGINAL ordinance. Because housing transparency, accountability and access should not take years of delays just to become a watered down pilot discussion.