To the Kankakee City Council, Mayor, and Housing Authorities:

Our community is facing a growing housing crisis that can no longer be ignored. Working families, single parents, seniors, and young adults are being priced out of the very city they call home. With minimum wage at $15 an hour, it is unrealistic and unsustainable for one‑bedroom apartments to cost $1,000 or more. These prices do not reflect the income levels of the people who live and work in Kankakee.

As a result, homelessness is rising, families are being displaced, and many residents are forced to choose between rent, food, childcare, and basic necessities. Housing is not a luxury — it is a human need, and it must be accessible to all members of our community.

We, the undersigned, respectfully call on the City of Kankakee to take immediate action by:

• Prioritizing the development of affordable housing units
• Creating or expanding rental assistance programs
• Implementing rent stabilization or incentive programs for landlords
• Partnering with state and federal agencies to bring affordable housing funding into Kankakee
• Ensuring that new developments include units priced for low‑ and moderate‑income families

Kankakee deserves to be a place where working people can afford to live, raise their families, and build stable futures. We urge city leadership to address this crisis with urgency, transparency, and community involvement.

Housing needs to be affordable for all. Our community cannot wait any longer.