Bills currently in both the Illinois House and Senate would provide a state tax credit for affordable housing construction.  The credit would supplement the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) under which developers selected for tax credits exchange them with private investors for up-front equity capital.  Illinois is not building enough affordable housing and faces a shortage of over 289,000 affordable rental homes for the lowest-income residents.  The proposed state tax credit will incentivize private investment in affordable housing and give families new hope.