La Grange Illinois 6/30/2026 Affordable Housing Task Force Meeting (Audio Only)

This video captures the inaugural meeting of the La Grange Affordable Housing Task Force, held on June 30, 2026. The meeting was convened to initiate a collaborative process aimed at evaluating housing needs and exploring potential strategies for the village. Key Discussion Points: Purpose and Structure: Village President Mark Klair and Trustee Beth Augustine emphasized that the task force is designed to be self-governing and collaborative (1:11 - 1:23, 10:11 - 10:34). There is no pre-defined mandate; the goal is for residents to research, discuss, and eventually present their findings and recommendations to the Village Board (11:14 - 11:26). Affordable Housing Context: The village currently strives to meet the Illinois statute requirement of 10% affordable housing (7:06 - 7:21). Discussion highlighted that while La Grange is currently in compliance, future developments may impact these percentages (7:24 - 7:44, 57:54 - 58:25). Community Input: Members of the League of Women Voters, including Peg Moster, shared the history of advocacy that led to the formation of this group, rooted in the village's comprehensive planning process (13:43 - 17:34). Real-World Perspectives: Kendall Grant from the St. Cletus Food Pantry provided sobering insights into the financial struggles faced by some La Grange residents, sharing examples of families needing assistance with rent, mortgages, and utilities (40:12 - 45:21). Next Steps: Information Sharing: The task force members will utilize a shared document environment to exchange research, articles, and best practices from other communities (48:15 - 49:56, 1:02:24 - 1:03:22). Future Meetings: The group plans to continue their work, with an intent to focus on defining their audience and determining how to best address housing affordability in a fiscally responsible and sustainable manner (1:01:21 - 1:02:21, 1:06:05 - 1:06:40).