We Support SB2921

Dear Governor Rauner:

We, the undersigned, represent Habitat for Humanity and its supports in Illinois and are writing you to ask that you sign SB2921 into law.

Through the efforts of tens of thousands of passionate volunteers, we have served thousands of your constituents, providing solutions to their housing needs. Habitat provides families on limited income, who struggle to have a simple decent place to call home, a hand up to achieve the dream of home ownership. Over the past eight years we have utilized the Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit program to help provide 71 homes to hardworking families in Illinois; leveraging over $14,700,000 in private funding through the process, and creating hundreds employment opportunities. This coming year we again have families who hope to find housing solutions with the help of the IL Affordable Housing Tax Credit program.

We are thankful that both the General Assembly and the Senate have passed SB2921, the Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit (IAHTC) - aka the State Donation Tax Credit - that is set to expire on December 31, 2016. It now needs just your signature to avoid that devastating outcome. If the IAHTC expires developers will no longer able to use this resource to leverage additional funds, build affordable housing and create jobs. That means people like Tony, a single father of four and a veteran of the Gulf war, will be in jeopardy of achieving his dream to provide a safe, stable home for his 2 daughters and 2 sons so they can grow up healthy and thrive.

Since its passage in 2001, the Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit has assisted numerous affordable housing developers in addition to Habitat for Humanity. Altogether we have made the following impact:
* Preserved or created over 17,000 homes stabilizing seniors, families, veterans and people with disabilities in communities across Illinois.
* Supported more than 25,000 jobs with over $1 billion in wages and business income.
* Motivated the donation of $360 million in assets like land, buildings, and long- term leases from private sources for affordable housing development in Illinois.
* Provided key financing for property-tax paying developments representing over $3.3 billion in investment statewide.

Three years ago, during your campaign, you joined Habitat for Humanity at Pioneer Plaza in downtown Chicago for our Raise your Hand Chicagoland event to create awareness and funding for Habitats work in the affordable housing arena. We want you to join us again to support decent, affordable homes for all hardworking families in Illinois. We urge you to take action and sign SB2921 as amended to include the extension of the IAHTC extending the credit for another five years.

Thank you in advance for your support of this important legislation.