Housing Action Illinois mobilizes organizations to end homelessness, increase affordable rental housing, and expand homeownership opportunities.

For nearly 40 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

 

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New Report on Illinois’ Housing Voucher Crisis

Not Even a Place in Line looks at the capacity of the Housing Choice Voucher program and finds that 95% of Illinois vouchers are administered by Public Housing Authorities with closed waitlists.

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Join Us at 2025 Housing Matters

Each year, our conference brings together 350 housing professionals who care about protecting affordable housing and ending homelessness. This year’s gathering will be on October 16–17.

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Map of United States showing Housing Wages in each state

2024 Annual Report

 In 2024, we stayed focused on what matters most: ensuring everyone has a safe, affordable home. We deepened our roots in Illinois while collaborating with allies across the country and advanced local and statewide policy solutions.

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2025 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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Critical Connections for Housing Counseling

No confusing forms. No long searches. Just a free, simple way to connect to a HUD-approved housing counselor to get expert advice on the homeownership process.

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Making a Difference through AmeriCorps

Our newest cohort of Housing Action Corps members just started their terms of service. We are excited to welcome 42 members serving in 7 different states.

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