Room for Everyone? Climate Migration and the Future of North Chicago’s Housing

As climate change intensifies in the coming decades, millions of Americans could move away from the regions most severely impacted and towards less vulnerable areas, like Lake County, Illinois. Communities such as North Chicago may find themselves welcoming newcomers, while also addressing long standing issues around housing, transportation, and infrastructure.

“North Chicago’s homeownership rate is low at 32.6 percent, well under county and state averages, and per capita income is roughly $24,600, about half the level of the surrounding metropolitan region. Close to 25 percent of residents live below the poverty line. Without proactive planning, climate migration inflows could exacerbate housing affordability challenges, push out current residents, and stretch assistance programs and other public services. The residents most at risk—lower-income households and communities vulnerable to gentrification—must have a voice in shaping how North Chicago prepares.

Getting ahead of these challenges now, with local residents at the center, is what climate migration readiness looks like.

Please join New America Chicago and New America’s Future of Land and Housing Program on Thursday, October 8th for a community-centered scenario planning event to explore how North Chicago can prepare for potential climate migration.

We’ll bring together a diverse group of residents, advocates, researchers, nonprofit service providers, planners, and policymakers to discuss the challenges and opportunities that climate migration could create for North Chicago, with a focus on affordable housing and community development. You could be on the ground floor to begin envisioning the policies and programs that benefit long-time residents while also preparing the city for any future changes.

The session is scheduled for Thursday, October 8th from 9:30am to 1:30pm Central in RWCLC Room 1.044 at Rosalind Franklin University (3333 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064).

The planned agenda will include a mix of lightning talks, breakout sessions, and larger group discussions, with an emphasis on active participation and dialogue. Session outputs will inform recommendations to help determine how North Chicago and similar communities can successfully absorb climate migrants without displacing existing residents.

Speakers to be announced. A light breakfast, drinks, and snacks will be provided

Additional information will be shared in the coming weeks. Please RSVP by Tuesday, September 29th. Email Tim Robustelli ([email protected]) or Meegan Dugan Adell ([email protected]) if you have any questions.

This event is made possible thanks to generous support from the Walder Foundation.