DuPage County is redirecting just over $6.5 million in federal funds away from building new affordable housing and toward rental assistance for its lowest-income residents, a shift that would make aid available to qualifying households countywide, including in Downers Grove, Woodridge and Westmont.

The county's Home Advisory Group voted unanimously Tuesday, Sept. 1, to recommend the reallocation of HOME-ARP money, which came through the American Rescue Plan Act, according to county meeting records.

The CDC-Executive Committee also approved the change that same day on a voice vote.

The original plan earmarked the funds for constructing affordable rental housing with three or more bedrooms. That proved unworkable. Julie Hamlin, DuPage County's community development administrator, told the advisory group that developers and nonprofit partners struggled to use the money for new construction. Eligible households generally have extremely low or no income, rents are capped at 30% of household income, and the housing authority lacks enough vouchers to bridge the gap.

Hamlin said the housing authority "lacks enough vouchers to provide the additional subsidy these projects would require." Other rental-assistance resources in the county are nearing or have already hit their spending deadlines, she said, adding urgency to the pivot.

Under the proposed shift, the $6.5 million would instead fund short- and medium-term rental assistance, utility payments, first and last month's rent, and moving expenses. The money targets people who are extremely low-income, homeless or have no income.

The reallocation still needs approval from the Human Services Committee and the full DuPage County Board before it takes effect. If those bodies sign off, county staff would prepare a funding notice in September, release it in October, accept applications in November, score them in December and present recommendations in January 2027.

County Board member Saba Haider moved the action item at the advisory group meeting. Andrew Honig seconded it. Greg Schwarze, a County Board member, served as acting chair. No members of the public spoke on the proposal.

The Home Advisory Group's next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 6.