After housing-market collapse, opportunities for new thinking Over the past 20 years, the City of Chicago has developed four five-year plans that support affordable housing in Chicago. This plan, following an unprecedented housing-market failure, must take a different approach than previous plans. “Discovery” planning – The City entered this process with a blank slate. We wanted to hear what housing leaders were saying and craft a plan that responded directly to their analysis of challenges and opportunities. Transitional approaches – The foreclosure crisis and Chicago’s dramatic population decline brought housing activity to an almost complete stop. This is therefore a transitional plan, a pivot toward recovery and an as-yet undefined next phase. Multiple partners – The City is just one of many contributors in the housing sector. By collaborating with private owners and developers, financial institutions, nonprofit development corporations and community organizations, we can deliver greater impact.