It is no secret that Chicago faces an affordable housing crisis, with 200,000 families on Chicago Housing Authority waitlists and no quick solution in sight. As CEO of the Chinese American Service League — a nonprofit that uplifts underserved families and individuals in Chicago neighborhoods including Chinatown/Armour Square, McKinley Square, Bridgeport and beyond — I have been pleased to see our elected leaders, including Mayor Brandon Johnson, focus on housing solutions for in-need communities.
However, history has shown that Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities have undeniably been left out of these discussions. Building a stronger, more equitable Chicago requires every community’s voice, and I hope AAPI leaders can be part of the solution.
