Naperville-area renters struggling with housing costs could get new help if DuPage County redirects $6.5 million in federal funds to rental assistance.
The county's Home Advisory Group voted unanimously on Tuesday, Sept. 1, to recommend shifting the money away from building affordable apartments and toward direct aid for people who are homeless, extremely low-income or earning no income at all. Only 31% of Naperville residents said they were satisfied with affordable housing availability in the city's 2026 community survey, the Chicago Tribune reported.
The $6.5 million comes from the HOME-ARP program, part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP). According to county meeting records, the original plan called for constructing affordable rental units with three or more bedrooms.
That plan stalled.
Why the county is changing course
Julie Hamlin, DuPage County's community development administrator, told the advisory group that developers and nonprofit partners found the program nearly impossible to use for new construction. Eligible households generally earn extremely low or no income, and rents under the program are capped at 30% of household income. The county's housing authority lacks enough vouchers to bridge the gap between what tenants can pay and what building costs.
At the same time, other rental-assistance programs in the county are running out of money or hitting their spending deadlines. The redirect would cover short- and medium-term rental assistance, utility payments, first and last month's rent, and moving expenses for eligible households.
What happens next
The amendment still needs approval from the Human Services Committee and then the full DuPage County Board. Greg Schwarze, a county board member who chaired the Sept. 1 advisory group meeting as acting chair, also leads the Human Services Committee. County Board member Saba Haider moved the amendment; County Board member Andrew Honig seconded it.
If the County Board approves the change, staff would prepare the application and funding notice in September, release it in October, accept applications in November, score them in December and present recommendations in January 2027. Applications would be evaluated on population eligibility, organizational capacity, federal funding experience and whether services duplicate existing programs.
Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli, speaking Sept. 1 about the city's community survey, framed the broader affordability challenge. Naperville residents are "already happy," Wehrli said, but "the question is who can afford to join them and whether young families and (the) workforce that the businesses need can get in the door."
City Hall ahead
- Tuesday, Sept. 8, 7 p.m. — DuPage County Board meeting, County Board Room. The HOME-ARP amendment could advance here after Human Services Committee review.
- Tuesday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m. — DuPage County Board meeting, County Board Room.
- Tuesday, Oct. 6 — Home Advisory Group, next scheduled meeting. Time and location not confirmed.
- Human Services Committee — Date for the HOME-ARP amendment hearing has not been posted. Check dupage.legistar.com for updates.
