Chambana Sun

The City of Champaign has initiated a process to collect public feedback as part of its Housing Needs Analysis and Strategy, marking the city’s first comprehensive housing study in over fifteen years. The effort comes at a time when many residents are experiencing significant challenges in securing housing, whether it involves purchasing a home, renting an apartment, or finding shelter for those without housing.

Officials point to a combination of factors contributing to local housing difficulties, including rising costs for both renting and buying, reduced construction activity, and limited options in housing types. According to the Zillow Observed Rent Index, market rate rents in Champaign have increased by 57% from 2015 to 2024, and the cost to purchase a home has risen by 63% during the same period.

To address these issues, the city has launched two surveys. The Community Housing Survey is open to all residents and aims to gather information about local housing needs. A separate Landlord Survey is intended for property owners and seeks to collect data on aspects such as vacancy rates and the number of rental units. The city states that insights from these surveys will help inform strategies to address the current housing situation.

“No one understands the city’s housing challenges better than the people who call Champaign home. We invite all residents to share their valuable input by taking the Community Housing Survey today,” city officials said.