PlatFORM Group

05/02/2026

Check out PlatFORM Group’s Ron Clewer’s latest Substack column here. Good insights from one of the Midwest’s most experienced professional housers …

ChatGPT was used to make this post more succinct.

04/07/2026

Rockford is back in the national conversation — this time in The Atlantic, which highlights a broader shift toward Midwest housing markets.

That recognition is well-earned. As many have pointed out, it reflects years of steady work across this community: investment, stabilization, and momentum that didn’t happen overnight.

But it also raises a more immediate question: What happens next?

In our recent video, local realtors and community leaders described what typically follows this kind of attention: more interest, more demand — and, if supply doesn’t keep up, higher prices.

That dynamic is already beginning to take shape here.

Realtor Frank Wehrstein put it simply: a “blessing and a curse.”
A blessing for a city gaining traction.
A challenge for the people already here — especially working households — who are now feeling the pressure of a tighter market.

“Affordability” isn’t just what draws people in. It’s what determines whether a community can sustain its growth.

We’re proud to be part of a city that’s gaining attention. The opportunity in front of Rockford is real.

The question is how we choose to meet it.

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Read the article here:

It’s (mostly) about affordability.

03/24/2026

The conversation on housing doesn’t stop with our recently-released video.

Today we’re publishing a deeper look at the housing challenge facing Rockford—including the data, context and expert perspectives behind Chapter One of "A Home For All."

Read the full article here: https://platformrockford.org/a-deeper-look-into-the-housing-gap/

In the article we explore:
• The scale of Rockford’s housing shortage
• Why development has slowed in recent decades
• The economic consequences of inaction
• What leaders and communities will need to do next

The housing conversation is often reduced to politics or headlines.
But the reality is more complex—and more important.

When PlatFORM Group released Episode 1 of A Home for All, “The Housing Gap,” we knew the topic would resonate. What we didn’t fully anticipate was the level of engagement. The response has been thoughtful, urgent and, at times, deeply personal. Viewers reached out with questions about the numb...

03/17/2026

VIDEO: The Housing Challenge Rockford Can’t Afford to Ignore

Rockford is getting national attention for our hot housing market, but beneath the headlines is a deeper, more troubling story.

In Chapter One of the PlatFORM Group’s new Home For All video series, community leaders and housing experts explore why Rockford hasn’t built enough housing, what the shortage means for families and employers – and why the future of our city and region depend on closing the gap.

Please watch and share the video.

The Housing Gap: What's Missing and Why It MattersRockford stands at a pivotal moment. After decades of economic transition, our city is experiencing renewed...

03/11/2026

Ron Clewer to Lead PlatFORM Group – and a Coordinated Push to Address Rockford's Housing Gap.

New analysis shows the city may need up to 9,100 new housing units by 2033, while current construction remains well below the national pace.

To help meet that moment, PlatFORM Group has named nationally recognized housing leader Ron Clewer as its first Executive Director. Clewer will also serve as CEO of aligned nonprofit partners ZION Development Corporation and Northwest Neighbors, creating a coordinated leadership structure focused on expanding affordable housing and strengthening neighborhoods across Rockford.

The move brings three essential civic organizations into closer alignment to accelerate development in Southwest Rockford, Midtown, Northwest Rockford and other priority neighborhoods.

Read more about the announcement: https://platformrockford.org/ron-clewer-new-leader-platform-group-zion-development-northwest-neighbors/

12/23/2025

With home prices up over 50% since the pandemic, housing prices have affected nearly all income levels. First-time buyers are aged 40 (all-time high). Over 50 years ago, HUD Secretary George Romney (Mitt Romney’s father) pioneered factory-built modular housing with the goal of mass-producing affordable homes to tackle shortages and rising costs. However, the concept never took off in the US primarily due to local regulations. The article argues for federal incentives to push cities to build more, while modernizing construction techniques and updating codes to realize savings and efficiency. Tell us your thoughts—could modular housing be one solution to America’s housing crisis? https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/opinion/housing-crisis-america.html?unlocked_article_code=1.-08.quyB.c7W7bxkZUyXN&smid=url-share

If we want more places for people to live, we’re going to have to get more creative.

12/16/2025

What policies actually make housing more affordable? UC Berkeley’s Ben Metcalf breaks it down in under two minutes, drawing on decades of research from the Terner Center for Housing Innovation. If you care about housing stability, workforce attraction & retention and truly inclusive communities, this is essential viewing. https://news.berkeley.edu/2025/12/11/the-housing-crisis-explained-in-101-seconds/

Watch UC Berkeley’s Ben Metcalf break down the policies needed to make homes affordable again.

12/08/2025

Affordable housing is more than affordability—it's about preserving or creating homes that promote the well-being of families by fostering stability, providing safer living environments, and lowering financial stress for hard-working Rockfordians.

Discover how orgs, such as PlatFORM, along with sensible policy initiatives, can prescribe healthier, more resilient communities by committing to affordable housing and equity.

https://ssir.org/articles/entry/urban-strategies-housing-health-care

Safe, stable housing is the foundation of community flourishing.

11/07/2025

Jerusalem Demsas’s episode for The Atlantic makes a point that hits home in Rockford, as it does in so much of the country: our housing shortage isn’t just an economic issue—it’s a structural failure in the decision-making process that has led to limited supply and rising costs.

Rockford faces a 6,000–9,200 unit shortfall by 2032. Addressing the housing crisis necessitates updating outdated procedures, promoting public awareness and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. Housing is a key aspect of community stability, workforce development and equitable growth.

To gain a deeper understanding of how these policies have reduced economic mobility and how potential solutions, such as relaxing zoning regulations and improving public engagement, can be applied to the Rockford region to maintain housing affordability and supply, click > https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2024/09/housing-crisis-local-government/679670/?gift=F4zNOg2JsqlXId3ZZ3NA2NLlEnaTchfZg6ixgZ07m1g

How local governments broke America’s housing markets

10/21/2025

PlatFORM Group is thrilled to welcome and support YIMBY Action's newest national chapter, Rockford Area YIMBY! Together, we're dedicated to advocating for affordable, safe housing for working people that provides stability for our region's citizens and improves Rockford's quality of life.

Please visit https://rockfordyimby.org/ to learn more about YIMBY Action's impact and to explore how the Rockford Area YIMBY chapter will make a difference in our community - and how you can help!

The YIMBY movement is growing in Illinois! Everyone, let's welcome Rockford Area YIMBY to the party 🥳