Welcome to the 2025 Kreisman Initiative Housing Challenge Symposium, an event that brings together innovative minds and passionate advocates to address one of the most pressing challenges facing our city: the severe shortage of affordable housing in Chicago.
Hosted by the Kreisman Initiative for Housing Law and Policy, the symposium marks the culmination of the inaugural Kreisman Initiative Housing Challenge (KIHC), a groundbreaking competition aimed at inspiring actionable solutions to create 126,125 affordable rental homes in Chicago over the next 3-5 years.
Beginning in January, University of Chicago students—both graduate and undergraduate—were invited to develop comprehensive proposals addressing this ambitious goal. Teams were challenged to craft solutions grounded in funding strategy, planning and design, and community engagement, addressing the critical shortage identified by a recent report from Housing Action Illinois and the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC).
With a $5,000 prize on the line, finalists have worked tirelessly to prepare their proposals. These exceptional teams will present their visions during the symposium, sharing innovative ideas to confront the city’s affordable housing crisis.
Jury panel members include:
- Tiffany Smith, Director of Heartland Next and the Urban Leader in Residence at the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation, University of Chicago
- Daniel Kay Hertz, Director of Housing, Impact for Equity
- Kristin Faust, Executive Director, Illinois Housing Development Authority
- Emily Talen (Ex-Officio), Professor of Urbanism at the University of Chicago
The symposium will also include a conversation with special guest, Marisa Novara, Vice President of Community Impact at The Chicago Community Trust, facilitated by Christopher Berry, William J. and Alicia Townsend Friedman Professor at the Harris School of Public Policy and the College and director of the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation, at the University of Chicago.
We hope this event fosters bold conversations, collaboration, and momentum toward real change in housing policy and development.
Please see the full event agenda here.
Parking/ Transportation:
• Street parking on 60th, Woodlawn and the Midway Plaisance
• Kimbark South Parking Garage located 6021 S. Kimbark Avenue ($29; 4+ hours)
• Parking is available after 4:00pm in the parking lot behind the Keller Center, access the parking lot via Kenwood Avenue.
*Note that if registration is full, please complete the waitlist form as we expect to allow all registrants to be able to attend.
