DeKalb has escaped inclusion on a list of 49 communities that the Illinois Housing Development Authority said must provide more affordable housing.

The Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act set an April 1, 2005 deadline for communities to develop plans for providing more affordable homes.

DeKalb is an exemption from IHDA list because 66.8 percent of all DeKalb housing is affordable, said Patrick Reilly, IHDA communications director.

Affordable monthly rent set by the IHDA is $775 per unit and qualifying home prices range from $122,000 to more than $125,000.

Municipalities on the IHDA list are those with less than 10 percent of their housing units available for working families.

Communities in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties are among those on the list. Will County has one city with less than 10 percent of affordable units while Lake County has 19 communities listed.

DeKalb’s total population is about 40,000 with 13,186 affordable units, according to the list. IHDA determines the number of affordable units from Urban Housing Development database figures that determine affordability.

“The DeKalb community and developers are offering several options for affordable homes in DeKalb,” Reilly said.

DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow said it has been an objective to increase affordable housing for DeKalb residents.

“Through the housing authority and their programs, we’re always trying to find ways of affordability,” Sparrow said.

The Housing Authority of the County of DeKalb helps by offering housing assistance to 981 low-income individuals and families. Their mission is to provide clean, decent, safe and affordable housing for lower income families and individuals throughout DeKalb County, Reilly said. The housing authority offers 180 units in DeKalb.

Mitch Hallgren, executive director of the housing authority, said they offer nine different programs.

The public housing program provides apartment units at Golden Years Plaza, Lewis Court Apartments and Garden Estates Apartments. The housing authority also operates other properties throughout the county.

“The properties are all income-based to qualify,” Hallgren said.

Qualifications based on income is scaled to family size. A family of four can qualify for public housing with a maximum annual income of $54,300.

For more information, visit http://www.dekcohousing.com.