Check this out! Brinshore Development is selling 20 properties across the city, or 2,435 units that include 695 units subsidized by the CHA!
This news is just the tip of the iceberg on why there is such a shortage of housing
A new article reminds Chicagoland readers that a long time partner of the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) is selling 20 properties across the city, or 2,435 units that include 695 units subsidized by the CHA and that leaves more people literally out in the street (https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2025/12/13/brinshore-development-cha-westhaven-chicago-properties-sale).
While this news is just the “tip of the iceberg” in what is happening in Chicago to the housing needed desperately by persons facing housing insecurity, it is important to share it right away. This news represents yet one more reason there are over 79,000 homeless people in Chicago.
Yes, that is the correct number. Even the mayor is using that number now. He has appointed a homeless services czar to work hard on getting people indoors (https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/homelessness-response/home/our-initiative.html).
So why this news about selling buildings—taking us in the wrong direction? To explain further, this developer has had a long relationship with CHA, but now things are not going so smoothly. Note that “Prior to marketing the buildings for sale, records show Brinshore warned the CHA that its properties were struggling due to difficulty working with the agency.”
Though the problems are complicated, Brinshore has stated simply that “The developer had been trying to refinance its properties but couldn’t work out the deals with housing authority staff. Properties that receive certain federal subsidies to build and include affordable units often need additional government resources to help finance renovations or improvements.”
Brinshore has been forced to sell the buildings because of lack of on-time payments from CHA, lack of proper maintenance being performed, and threats from gang members who are reported to have threatened maintenance workers trying to work on the buildings. Lack of cooperation and support from CHA—in addition to red tape—contributed to the move also.
The attempted sale of such properties is more terrible news at a time when there is already a terrific shortage of housing in the city.
Another ongoing problem is the lack of decisions about CHA staff. Most clearly, the lack of a CEO for CHA seems to be making the problem worse. There is no advocate in place to develop, purchase, or maintain affordable housing in Chicago. With nobody at the wheel, the bus with no appropriate buildings to house the homeless is careening down a steep hill.
The homeless, and persons who are in danger of becoming homeless, suffer as these various complications and setbacks stack up. Considering the mayor wants to get more housing open for those who need it the most (https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/homelessness-response/home/our-initiative.html) the news of developers giving up on affordable units is distressing indeed.
This bad news, reported by Lizzie Kane yesterday (12-13-25) seems to pile on top of another important bit of information: “The CHA had another relationship with a real estate partner go awry in September 2024 when The Habitat Co. ended its property management agreements with the CHA after nearly 40 years…”
Kane’s article says nothing about Habitat’s role in the unhappiness and the divorce, however. In many accounts of Habitat ending agreements, they are often painted as the adult in the room who finally had to cut ties with CHA. Mentioning Habitat’s decision in passing this way is an incomplete account of what really went on.
By throwing that paragraph in there, Habitat winds up looking innocent of any wrong doing. They appear to be without fault or error—by some persons who have been considering their role in the bitter breakup.
Strange how they sneak that into this article…
As always, it is important to consider different perspectives when trying to understand the news.
It takes two to forget how to tango.