Housing Action Illinois mobilizes organizations to end homelessness, address the shortage of affordable rental housing, and expand homeownership opportunities.

For more than 35 years, we have brought together member organizations from across Illinois united in our vision of expanding affordable housing and ending homelessness. Our members include housing counseling agencies, homeless service providers, developers of affordable housing, and policymakers.

Our work has led to tens of thousands of new homes being built, hundreds of thousands of people going from housing insecurity or homelessness to having stable homes, and millions of renters gaining better protections. Working with our members and allies, we’ve created access and housing opportunities in every community throughout Illinois.

Policy Advocacy

We mobilize our members to advocate for policies that help end homelessness, create affordable rental housing, and promote sustainable homeownership. Together, our voice is stronger.

Capacity Building

We help housing counseling agencies and developers build their capacity and expand their resources. We are a HUD-approved Intermediary and manage an AmeriCorps network. Together, our impact is greater.

Education & Organizing

We build awareness, activate change, and shift narratives by sharing information and real-life stories with policymakers, nonprofit service providers, and the media.

Recent Happenings

 

Square crop of cover of 35th anniversary publication

2024 Housing Matters Conference

Thank you to the nearly 350 participants who joined us for 2024 Housing Matters. Stay tuned for details on our 2025 gathering.

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Map of United States showing Housing Wages in each state

2023 Annual Report

The fate of our local communities is inextricably linked to that of our neighbors, and change means partnering with allies near and far. Because of this, while staying true to our roots, we’ve expanded some of our programming.

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Three people in AmeriCorps shirts talking at table

Making a Difference through AmeriCorps

Each year, we connect AmeriCorps members with community organizations to build capacity and address local challenges with local solutions. This August, we welcomed our most recent cohort of AmeriCorps members.

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person raising hand at training

2024 Trainings & Events

We build the capacity of housing nonprofits through trainings, with a specific focus on supporting housing counselors. We also host an annual conference and an annual benefit.

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Map graphic from The Gap 2022 report

2024 State Legislative Session Wrap-Up

During the 2024 Illinois General Assembly session, which ended on May 29, we helped secure record funding to end homelessness, move the IL CRA forward, and more.

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paper hand holding megaphone

Launching Our First On-Demand Housing Counselor Training

Recognizing a need for flexible and dynamic learning opportunities, we’ve launched our first on-demand training for housing counselors.

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