Resources to Find a Rental Home

Housing Action Illinois does not provide direct assistance to people looking for affordable housing, but the following websites and resources should be of use in searching for an affordable rental home.

If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, please visit this page.

For resources related to the COVID-19 public health crisis, please visit this page, which is being updated regularly and includes information on any rental assistance programs currently available.

ILHousingSearch.org, developed by the Illinois Housing Development Authority and other state agencies, provides detailed information about rental properties and helps people find housing to best fit their needs.

HUD Resource Locator is a map-based tool to connect with building managers, public housing authority representatives, and property management companies to inquire about housing availability and other housing-related questions.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development—Rental Housing in Illinois: Subsidized Housing, Public Housing, Housing Choice Vouchers, and other information.

Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA)

City of Chicago-Affordable Rental Housing Resource List

The Chicago Housing Authority: Housing Choice Voucher Program and Public Housing

USDA Housing Programs Illinois (rural areas only)

Map-based search for USDA affordable rental housing in rural areas

The Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL): A coalition of local Centers for Independent Living (CILs) that work with people who have disabilities. Click on the “Center Locations” link to find your local CIL.

Community Action Agencies don’t provide actual housing, but do provide a wealth of housing-related social services, such utility assistance, homelessness prevention and housing counseling. To find the Community Action Agency in your county visit the State of Illinois list of these agencies.

IllinoisLegalAid.org provides lower-income and vulnerable Illinois residents with information about their legal rights and responsibilities, referrals to free and low cost legal aid offices, multimedia training and education, and forms and instructions for representing themselves. They also run Legal Answers, a virtual walk-in clinic where you can get answers to your legal questions for free from volunteer attorneys.

Rentervention.com is a free resource for Chicago renters to help diagnose their legal issues, understand their rights, and choose the best option for solving their problem.

Metropolitan Tenants Organization offers online, telephone hotline and organizing support for tenants in Chicago to exercise their human right to affordable and safe housing.