Housing Action Illinois is a statewide coalition of more than 200 organizations dedicated to protecting and expanding the availability of quality, affordable, accessible homes throughout Illinois. The great majority of our member organizations are nonprofit direct-service providers who provide shelter, affordable housing, and/or housing counseling to low-income individuals and families.

Through our Policy Advocacy Program, we mobilize our members and allies to advocate for policies that help end homelessness, create affordable rental housing, promote sustainable homeownership and affirmatively further fair housing. For this work, we particularly focus on the needs of people with the lowest incomes and others impacted by systemic inequities in our society. Our complementary Public Education & Organizing Program builds awareness and activates change by sharing information and real-life stories with policymakers, nonprofit service providers, and the media.

Successful state level campaigns we have recently worked on include: passing legislation regulating junk fees for renters; delaying the Cook County tax sale to provide more time for property tax sale reform; securing more than $180 million in new state funding to prevent and end homelessness; advocating for the creation of a new property tax incentive for the preservation and creation of affordable rental housing; and advocating for the passage of the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act.

In Cook County, Housing Action was a leader in campaigns to create payment plan options for homeowners with delinquent property taxes, passage of the Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance and fair housing protections for people with criminal records through the Just Housing Amendment.

Working with partners and allies around the country, we also actively engage in federal level advocacy. This includes advocacy with members of our Congressional delegation to protect and expand resources in the federal housing budget.

Housing Action also has programs that build the capacity and expand the resources of our member organizations through training and technical assistance and as a HUD Approved Housing Counseling Intermediary and HUD Housing Counseling Training Partner. Housing Action also manages a network of AmeriCorps VISTA members working with member agencies.

Job Title: Housing Policy Organizer

Responsible to: Policy Director

Summary of Primary Job Functions: The Housing Policy Organizer is responsible for implementation and management of portions of Housing Action’s Public Policy Advocacy and Public Education and Organizing Programs, including our advocacy work on local, state and federal spending, as well as our legislative and other policy efforts. An important goal for the Housing Policy Organizer is to lead Housing Action’s work to build the capacity of community-based organizations, particularly our members, to participate in our advocacy campaigns.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the Policy Director, assist in the development and implementation of our public policy agenda.
• Help lead attempts to influence public policy at the state, federal, and local level.
• Build relationships with members, allies, and other stakeholders to gain community support for Housing Action’s advocacy efforts and to solicit input to guide our future work.
• Establish and maintain relationships with elected officials.
• Organize, manage, and lead issue-specific working groups and coalitions.
• Work with other staff to plan, coordinate, and implement public education and organizing activities, such as our annual conference and membership recruitment and retention activities.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications:

• At least three years of experience with a non-profit, community-based organization in one of the following areas: affordable housing or community development; public policy in housing or a related social justice field; and/or community organizing
• Strong mission alignment; knowledge of current public policies and programs related to our organizational mission is a plus
• Strong problem solving skills
• Ability to evaluate effectiveness of projects and initiatives, and provide suggestions for improvement
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Comfort with representing Housing Action externally, speaking/presenting publicly, and facilitating large group discussions
• Strong collaboration and group facilitation skills, including leading and managing networks/coalitions toward agreed upon goals
• Ability to engage organizational members and leverage our statewide coalition to advance organizational mission
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with diverse people and communities
• Ability to shift between independent, self-directed work and team collaboration/projects
• Detail-oriented, organized, and able to meet internal and external deadlines
• Strong software and computer skills, ability to learn new programs quickly, especially Mac computers/software
• Ability to work flexible hours; some evening and weekend hours may be required
• Must have valid driver’s license and be willing/able to do significant travel throughout the state. For a highly qualified candidate, we will consider that they not be required to work out of our Chicago office
• Bachelor’s Degree or experience in related field

Salary and Benefits:

Housing Action offers a competitive salary ($58,500-$64,350) and benefits package. Benefits currently include 100% of health, dental, and short-term disability insurance premiums for employee paid by Housing Action, 12 vacation days the first year of employment (increases to 18 days thereafter), 5 personal days, 11 holidays, and 12 health leave days.

Additional relevant qualifications, such as significant past work experience, could warrant a higher starting salary.

We also offer a flexible hybrid work arrangement, with the option to work 2-4 days per week remotely.

Housing Action Illinois is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer Illinois. We believe that personnel diversity is an organizational strength and recognize and value the intersectional identities that staff members bring to our organization.

How to Apply and Deadline:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to employment@housingactionil.org with “Housing Policy Organizer” in the subject line. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2026, although Housing Action Illinois will be reviewing resumes on a rolling basis. The anticipated start date for the position is September 1, 2026. No phone calls, please.

Each year, Housing Action Corps matches AmeriCorps members with community-based organizations across Illinois. AmeriCorps is a national service program that connects people and organizations to help end poverty and strengthen communities.

AmeriCorps members take on a variety of roles at their host organizations, all aimed at helping our communities thrive. They expand the scale of programs and services, implement new projects, and build capacity to further the long-term sustainability of anti-poverty programs at their host organizations.

Since 2010, Housing Action Illinois has managed a network of AmeriCorps members in the VISTA program. Housing Action Corps members serve full-time with their organizations for a year-long term. Most of our positions are located in Illinois, but AmeriCorps members in our Housing Counseling Corps can serve with housing counseling agencies nationwide.

If you’re passionate about housing and interested in serving as an AmeriCorps member, or if you know someone who might be, take a look at the various host sites and their postings below. We will update this page and the embedded map as positions open or are filled. If you have questions or need assistance with your application, please email our AmeriCorps team.

To apply, click on the position links below and submit an application through the My AmeriCorps portal. For assistance using the AmeriCorps portal, read detailed instructions on how to apply.

Learn more about Housing Action Corps »

2025-2026 Housing Action Corps Positions

Updated July 2025

Housing Action Corps  |  Housing Counseling Corps

Priority applications are due by July 15, 2025. All positions are full-time (35-40 hrs/week) for a 12 month term. Housing Action Corps members start on August 11 or August 25, 2025; earlier start dates may be allowed in certain circumstances, but we strongly recommend starting in August.

Housing Action Corps

Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County, Hillside, IL

• • Housing Engagement VISTA – position filled

Chicago 400 Alliance, Chicago, IL

• • Chicago 400 Alliance VISTAs (2) – position filled

Chicago Furniture Bank, Chicago, IL

• • Volunteer Engagement VISTA – position filled
  • Coordinator for Growth and Community Awareness – position filled
  • Financial Analyst VISTA – position filled

Chicago Rehab Network, Chicago, IL

• • Communications Associate

City of Evanston, Evanston, IL

• • Housing Coordinator VISTA – position filled

City of Rockford – Community Development Department, Rockford, IL

• • Housing Resource Specialist – position filled

CJE SeniorLife, Chicago, IL

• • Housing Task Force VISTA – position filled

Community Partners for Affordable Housing, Libertyville, IL

• • Development and Fundraising Associate – position filled

Connections for the Homeless, Evanston, IL

• • Research Associate – position filled

DuPage and Chicago South Suburbs Habitat for Humanity, Wheaton, IL

• • PR and Video Marketing Associate – position filled
  • Development Database Analyst
  • Database Consultant

DuPagePads, Downers Grove, IL

• • Employment Solutions Development Specialist

Garfield Park Community Council, Chicago, IL

• • Development and Strategic Planning Associate – position filled
  • Leadership and Evaluation Associate – position filled

Habitat for Humanity McHenry Lake County, Gurnee, IL

• • Community Engagement Specialist – position filled

HOPE Fair Housing, Wheaton, IL

• • Fair Housing VISTA

Housing Action Illinois – Communications & Development, Chicago, IL

• • Development and Engagement VISTA – position filled

McLean County Center for Human Services, Bloomington, IL

• • Communication and Information Coordinator

Mercy Housing Lakefront, Chicago, IL

• • Information Management VISTA

Northwest Christian Community Development Corporation, Rockford, IL

• • Community Development Project Leader – position filled

Open Communities, Evanston, IL

• • Development and Communications Associate – position filled

Preservation of Affordable Housing, Chicago, IL

• • Resident Engagement Coordinator – position filled

Preservation of Affordable Housing: Woodlawn Resource Center, Chicago, IL

• • Resident Orientation and Advisory Board Coordinator – position filled

The Resurrection Project, Chicago, IL

• • Resident Services Coordinator

Senior Services Plus, Alton, IL

• • Home Repair VISTA – position filled

Territory NFP, Chicago, IL

• • PATHS Fellow – position filled
  • Program and Outreach Liaison – position filled

Voice of the People in Uptown, Chicago, IL

• • Voice Owners Network Coordinator – position filled

Housing Counseling Corps

Housing Counseling Corps is an initiative of Housing Action Corps. Housing Counseling Corps members may be placed with housing counseling agencies nationwide and receive customized training and professional development in housing counseling. 

Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania, Philadephia, PA

• • Communications and Outreach Associate – position filled

Famicos, Cleveland, OH

• • Homeownership Navigator

HOPE of Evansville, Evansville, IN

• • Housing Counseling Intake Specialist – position filled

Housing Action Illinois – Capacity Building, Chicago, IL

• • Training Coordinator
  • Performance and Compliance Coordinator – position filled

Housing Options and Planning Enterprises, Oxon Hill, MD

• • Housing Counselor – position filled

Housing Partnership for Morris County, Dover, NJ

• • Asset Development Coordinator – position filled

Increasing H.O.P.E. Financial Training Center, North Charleston, SC

• • AmeriCorps VISTA Housing Counselor – position filled

Jackson County Housing Authority, Murphysboro, IL

• • Community Development Officer

New Kensington Community Development Corporation, Philadelphia, PA

• • Housing Support VISTA – position filled

Spanish Coalition for Housing, Chicago, IL

• • Financial Literacy and Research VISTA

Urban League of Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, FL

• • AmeriCorps Housing Counselor – position filled