Press Releases | Housing Action Illinois

HUD Hit With Lawsuit After Withholding Tens of Millions in Housing Grants

Kristin Ginger — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:00:11 +0000

The Department of Housing and Urban Development abruptly cut approximately $56 million in funding and illegally altered its policies, putting thousands of families at risk of foreclosure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 29, 2026

Media Contact:

Kristin Ginger, Housing Action Illinois: kristin@housingactionil.org
Teresa Mozur, Democracy Defenders Fund: (301) 375-0451, teresa@democracydefenders.org
Dan Jacobson, Jacobson Lawyers Group: dan@jacobsonlawyersgroup.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democracy Defenders Fund and Jacobson Lawyers Group filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Housing and Urban Development on behalf of 10 non-profit organizations that provide housing support services. The suit challenges HUD’s abrupt cancellation of grant funding that longtime recipients had expected to receive, after months of delays and uncertainty. The delays and policy changes already forced organizations to overextend their budgets and incur uncompensated costs. The latest funding cuts will eliminate Americans’ access to vital homebuyer education and foreclosure-prevention counseling, alongside critical support for renters and individuals experiencing homelessness.

The lawsuit follows the Trump administration’s recent issuance of pocket rescissions cutting $56 million in housing counseling funds, a move that directly jeopardizes the housing security of thousands of families facing foreclosure or eviction. The plaintiffs provide essential support for everyday Americans navigating financial crises, modifying mortgages or striving for homeownership. These federal cuts deal a blow to prospective homebuyers, renters and unhoused families who rely on counseling services to guide critical financial decisions. The abrupt funding cuts come as households face severe affordability pressures and a rising cost of living, making housing guidance essential. Without these support systems, vulnerable families face greater hurdles to maintaining housing stability, navigating mortgages and avoiding foreclosure.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include:

The National Urban League
Housing Action Illinois
North Carolina Housing Coalition
New Jersey Citizen Action
Housing & Community Development Network of NJ
National CAPACD
Fair Housing Resource Center
Southwest Fresno Community Development Corporation
Somerville Community Corporation
National Foundation for Debt Management

The suit highlights First Amendment violations as the administration targeted and canceled grants to penalize recipients for disfavored viewpoints and protected speech outside the program. The lawsuit also claims that HUD’s actions violate federal law, ignore established regulations and arbitrarily reverse three decades of policy. Under the Administrative Procedure Act, the complaint asserts that HUD acted arbitrarily and capriciously by failing to explain its abrupt policy shift, disregarding reliance interests, and withholding congressionally mandated funds.

“The Trump administration’s decision is as illegal as it is heartless,” said Tianna Mays, legal director at Democracy Defenders Fund. “The president cannot unilaterally slash congressionally appropriated housing funds, putting thousands of vulnerable families at risk. We will fight this in court on behalf of every household in America that depends on these support services as the cost of living continues to rise.”

“The government’s effort to unilaterally cancel congressionally mandated funding is unlawful standing on its own,” said Daniel Jacobson, Founder of Jacobson Lawyers Group PLLC. “But it is doubly unlawful because the White House made clear that it is cancelling this program because it does not like the views and speech of recipients of the funds, in blatant violation of the First Amendment.”

“The White House effectively has admitted that this rescission was motivated, at least in part, by criticism of the administration’s policies. That’s not how our Constitution works,” said Marc H. Morial, National Urban League president and CEO. “No president has the authority to retaliate against critics by blocking investments Congress has already approved — a violation made even egregious when the result is denying vital housing resources to struggling communities.”

“The people hurt most by this pocket rescission are those who simply seek the American Dream — to own a home,” said Sharon K. Legenza, executive director of Housing Action Illinois. “If these essential funds are withheld, local housing counseling agencies will not be able to provide critical financial literacy, rental, and homeownership education, making it even harder, especially in this economic climate, for families seeking guidance on some of the most complex, important financial decisions of their lives.”

“Local housing counseling agencies are on the front lines keeping families in their homes in the midst of financial crisis and preparing first-time homebuyers for homeownership,” said Samuel Gunter, executive director at the North Carolina Housing Coalition. “Their work preserves and builds wealth for communities across the state. It is unacceptable that after more than a year of delay, the administration has chosen to defy congress and not release appropriated funds. It only harms North Carolina communities.”

“At a time when many Americans across the country are struggling with housing affordability, the Trump Administration is continuing its attacks on our social safety net, this time targeting the nonprofit service providers and federal programming, including comprehensive housing counseling services, that provide a critical lifeline to those most in need,” said Dena Mottola Jaborska, executive director of New Jersey Citizen Action.

“NJ families and residents are in the midst of a housing affordability crisis, and will be deeply harmed by the White House rescission of HUD-housing counseling dollars,” said Staci Berger, President and CEO of the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ, the largest, funded HUD-certified housing counseling intermediary in the state. “We are pursuing this action to protect our neighbors and communities, so that they are able to access affordable, safe and stable housing using the wide array of HUD housing counseling services that Congress authorized.”

“In 2026, this is exactly the wrong time to make it harder for homeowners in distress to get help. We must restore access to trusted, local housing counseling without further delay,” said Patricia Kidd, executive director of the Fair Housing Resource Center in Ohio. “Families facing the loss of their homes cannot put their crises on hold while funding remains unresolved.”

“At a time when people across the country are struggling with rising housing costs and an unprecedented affordability crisis, it is a direct attack on our democracy and its people to unilaterally decide to rescind funding for programs that help address the basic needs of communities across the country,” said Seema Agnani, CEO, National CAPACD.

Read the full complaint here.

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Housing Action Illinois has been leading the movement to end homelessness, address the shortage of affordable rental housing, and expand homeownership opportunities in Illinois for nearly 40 years.

Democracy Defenders Fund brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.

Jacobson Lawyers Group is an elite group of former government attorneys helping clients overcome federal funding and regulatory challenges.

Housing Wage in Illinois Now More than $30

Kristin Ginger — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:33:21 +0000

For Immediate Release: July 23, 2026
Contact: Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333

CHICAGO, IL – Full-time workers need to earn $30.36 per hour to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent in Illinois. This is Illinois’ “2026 Housing Wage” according to Out of Reach, a report published jointly today by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and Housing Action Illinois.

Out of Reach, released annually, documents the gulf between wages and what people need to earn to afford their rents. The report shows that affordable rental homes remain out of reach for millions of low-wage workers and their families. The report’s Housing Wage is an estimate of the hourly wage full-time workers must earn to afford a rental home at HUD’s Fair Market Rent without spending more than 30% of their incomes.

This year, for the first time, the Housing Wage for Illinois has surpassed $30 per hour. Costs in the Chicago metropolitan area are even higher, with a Housing Wage of $34.25. Statewide, the Housing Wage ranges from $39.42 in the Kendall County metropolitan area to $17.62 in certain rural areas of central and southern Illinois.

“High rental costs continue to hurt people with the lowest incomes the most, especially minimum wage earners and people with disabilities,” said Bob Palmer, Policy Director for Housing Action Illinois. “For people experiencing homelessness, it’s a particularly difficult environment to find affordable apartments, both for the directly impacted people and the nonprofits who work with them.”

In Illinois, the maximum monthly Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment for an individual is $994. Therefore, a person on SSI can only afford $298 a month in rent without paying more than 30% of their income for housing. If someone is earning the state minimum wage of $15, they must work 81 hours per week to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment.

In 2026, the average hourly wage earned by Illinois renters is $24. Even for a one bedroom apartment, a worker must earn $26.32.

Out of Reach 2026 highlights the significant need for rental subsidies, such as Housing Choice Vouchers, and deeply affordable rental housing to assist the lowest-income renters. Despite this need, federal resources for affordable housing remain insufficient. Currently, only one in four eligible households receives federal housing assistance due to chronic underfunding. This underfunding is largely a result of housing assistance programs, which are not entitlements, competing for limited discretionary federal funding.

For additional information, and to download the report, visit: http://www.nlihc.org/oor

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About Housing Action Illinois

Housing Action Illinois has been leading the movement to end homelessness, address the shortage of affordable rental housing, and expand homeownership opportunities in Illinois for nearly 40 years. With our 200+ member organizations, we bring everyone together to work toward our vision of an Illinois where everyone has a stable, good home.

HUD Changes Could Push More than 5,000 Illinoisans Back Into Homelessness

Kristin Ginger — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 16:01:39 +0000

For Immediate Release: June 26, 2026
Contact: Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333

CHICAGO, IL – A new analysis from the National Alliance to End Homelessness finds that 5,105 Illinoisans are at risk of losing their homes as Illinois’ 19 Continuum of Care networks stand to lose more than $60 million in existing federal homelessness funding for permanent supportive housing and other permanent housing under recent changes proposed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

HUD released its FY2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Continuum of Care (CoC) program on June 1. The CoC is our nation’s largest investment in ending homelessness. Funds currently received by CoC networks are subject to a national competitive application process. In a dramatic break from the approach that has been the focus for nearly two decades, HUD has been proposing to reject evidence-based Housing First policies and practices in favor of short-term assistance, transitional housing and mandatory treatment.

Housing First programs—especially permanent supportive housing—pair stable, affordable housing with mental health care, substance use treatment, medical care for other chronic diseases, and additional support people need to rebuild their lives. Decades of research show this approach is more effective at ending homelessness than alternatives, which matters greatly in a country where there is nowhere near enough affordable housing to begin with.

“Permanent supportive housing is a proven tool to end homelessness, particularly for those with mental illness or substance use disorder, and has had longtime bipartisan support. Replacing permanent housing subsidies with time-limited support or funding for supportive services alone will lead to more people experiencing homelessness, not fewer,” said Mark Ishaug, President and CEO of Thresholds, one of Illinois’ largest and longest serving providers of community mental health treatment and supportive housing.

HUD proposed similar changes for the FY2025 CoC Program NOFO. However, a combination of court decisions and actions by Congress required HUD to renew existing contracts for one year. The provisions in the FY26 NOFO are once again subject to legal challenge.

“We urge HUD and the administration to reverse course and return to funding what works: permanent supportive housing and other Housing First programs supported by evidence,” said Bob Palmer, Policy Director for Housing Action Illinois.

Many groups in Illinois have been working together to appeal to members of our Congressional delegation to expand funding for the CoC program, keep a focus on Housing First strategies, and require HUD to protect existing permanent supportive housing and the people who live in it.

These groups include, but are not limited to: Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County, AIDS Foundation Chicago, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Center for Housing and Health, Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness, Chicago Homelessness and Health Response Group for Equity (CHHRGE), Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness, Christian Community Health Center, Housing Action Illinois, Illinois Shelter Alliance, Lincoln Park Community Services, NAMI Chicago, New Moms, South Suburban PADS, Supportive Housing Providers Association and Thresholds.

View the full analysis from NAEH »

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About Housing Action Illinois

Report Finds Deficit of Rental Units for Extremely Low-Income Renters in Illinois

Kristin Ginger — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:30:07 +0000

For Immediate Release: March 5, 2026
Contact: Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333

CHICAGO, IL – A new report by Housing Action Illinois and the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, finds a national shortage of 7.2 million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renter households—and only 34 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 of these households in Illinois.

These findings come amidst multiple proposed rules from the Trump administration that will make it more challenging to promote access to federally subsidized rental homes.

“We need federal policies that increase the availability and access to affordable housing, not attempt to take it away or make it more difficult to qualify for,” said Bob Palmer, Policy Director for Housing Action Illinois.

These harmful rules include:

Allowing Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and owners of project-based rental Section 8 assistance to implement time limits and work requirements. The proposal ignores that federal programs are necessary because of the high cost of housing in the private market, not because people aren’t already working or don’t want to work if they are able. More than half of non-disabled, working-age Illinois households receiving federal rental assistance include at least one worker.
Changing federal law and ending long-standing federal policy by prohibiting families with mixed immigration status from receiving housing assistance and creating burdensome citizenship documentation requirements for U.S. citizens. Contrary to HUD’s false claims, people who are undocumented do not receive housing subsidies under current policy. If the eligible individual is part of a mixed status family, the family receives prorated housing assistance only for the eligible individual. These families therefore pay a higher amount of rent than other households.
Eliminating the requirement that PHAs and property owners receiving HUD funding to provide 30-day written notice for nonpayment of rent prior to eviction. Without the protection of the 30-day notice rule, HUD tenants in Illinois could be evicted with only 5 days notice to pay what is owed.

“Without the 30-day notice rule, the tenants we serve in Illinois will be at much higher risk of losing their housing due to rent that they don’t even owe. HUD multifamily housing owners make ledger errors and miscalculate balances that families need time to resolve,” said Noah Moskowitz, Organizing Director for the Jane Addams Senior Caucus. “By rescinding this rule, HUD is forcing our families through an impossible five-day timeline to address administrative errors, pay the erroneous charges, or face homelessness.”

The report finds that 439,933 extremely low-income renter households live in Illinois, but only 150,317 affordable rental homes are available to them—leaving a staggering shortage of 289,616 affordable rental homes. Extremely low-income households have annual incomes at or below 30% of their area median income (AMI). As a result, 74% of extremely low-income renters in Illinois are severely housing cost-burdened, spending more than 50% of their income on housing, with little left over for food, healthcare, and other basic necessities.

The picture is even worse in the Chicago metro area, where only 31 affordable and available homes exist per every 100 extremely low-income renters.

Even for those with a slightly larger household budget, there are not nearly enough options available; in Illinois, there are only 63 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 very low income households in Illinois. Very low income households have annual incomes of 50% or below AMI.

The private market alone cannot provide an adequate supply of housing affordable, especially for the lowest-income renters. Investments are needed to produce new affordable housing, preserve existing affordable housing, and subsidize the difference between what the lowest-income renters can afford to pay and market rents.

Released annually, The Gap investigates the affordability and availability of rental homes for households of different income levels nationwide and in every state and major metropolitan area. For the full report, visit: https://nlihc.org/gap

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About Housing Action Illinois

Statement on Building Up Illinois Developments (BUILD) from Housing Organizations

Kristin Ginger — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 23:25:29 +0000

For Immediate Release: February 19, 2026
Contact: Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333

Housing affordability and supply are not isolated local concerns. They are statewide economic and civic challenges that require coordinated action. Across Illinois, people and communities are grappling with rising housing costs, constrained inventory, and regulatory frameworks that can slow or discourage new development. These pressures hinder our workforce growth, household stability, municipal capacity, and long-term economic competitiveness. These are not problems that can be solved on a community-by-community basis, and require clear expectations and standards across the state.

We appreciate Governor Pritzker and state lawmakers for helping jumpstart an important statewide conversation about housing priorities and investments. Their engagement has elevated the urgency of the issue and opened the door to practical solutions that can strengthen Illinois communities while supporting working families seeking stable, affordable housing options.

The Building Up Illinois Developments (BUILD) legislative package represents a serious and necessary effort to create statewide alignment on our housing crisis. Establishing baseline statewide standards, enabling accessory dwelling units, setting reasonable parking requirements, and improving review timelines can help reduce unnecessary costs and delays while maintaining adequate local oversight and control. These types of reforms make it more feasible to produce housing that working Illinoisans can afford and that Illinois communities need to ensure the future economic vitality and competitiveness of our state.

Equally important, pairing regulatory improvements with targeted financial resources is critical. Strategic investments in proven financing and funding mechanisms — including capital support for housing production, assistance for first-time homebuyers, and infrastructure resources that unlock stalled projects — can help ensure policy changes translate into real housing opportunities across diverse communities.

No single proposal will fully resolve Illinois’ housing challenges, but continued collaboration and thoughtful investment can make meaningful progress. Some local communities have embraced proactive policies to increase housing supply, but nowhere near enough. This General Assembly session, the state legislature needs to advance policies and targeted funding that expand affordable housing supply, strengthen stability for tenants and homeowners, and support sustainable growth statewide. We urge the Illinois General Assembly to advance this legislation and continue strengthening Illinois’ capacity to deliver stable housing for households across the state.

Abundant Housing Illinois
Elevated Chicago
Housing Action Illinois
Illinois Housing Council
Impact for Equity
Metropolitan Planning Council
YIMBY Illinois

Housing Advocates Urge HUD to Avoid Forcing Thousands of Illinoisans into Homelessness

Kristin Ginger — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 17:00:06 +0000

In a letter to Secretary Scott Turner, advocates outline importance of maintaining funding for housing programs

For Immediate Release: November 14, 2025
Contact: Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois (kristin@housingactionil.org) and Emily Moen, Chief Communications Officer Director, Thresholds (emily.moen@thresholds.org)

CHICAGO, Ill. — Yesterday, nearly 300 groups from across Illinois sent a letter to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner urging the Department to renew existing grants in order to prevent a harmful gap in funding of housing and services for people who have experienced homelessness. Signatories include a diverse cross-section of stakeholders comprised of housing providers and advocates, health and disability rights groups as well as faith-based organizations and others.

The letter, led by Thresholds and Housing Action Illinois, responds to reports that HUD would issue a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Continuum of Care (CoC) awards — instead of renewing existing grants for another year. The NOFO for fiscal year 2025 was not released until the evening of November 13, even though the fiscal year ended on September 30. The deadline to apply is January 14, 2026.

Existing awards have various end dates in 2026. Some will begin to expire as soon as the end of January next year, creating a funding gap that will threaten the ability of agencies to continue providing housing and services.

Based on the 2024 HUD Point in Time Count, on any given night, nearly 26,000 Illinoisans are experiencing homelessness. This includes more than 7,200 children, over 2,800 survivors of domestic violence, nearly 700 seniors, and more than 550 veterans. Because of the lack of affordable housing — the root cause of homelessness — even more people are doubled up or otherwise do not have a home of their own.

“Existing federal grants start to expire early in 2026. At this late date, there is no way the federal government can undertake a brand-new funding competition without causing a monthslong gap between the end of many existing awards and the beginning of new funding,” said Bob Palmer, Policy Director for Housing Action Illinois.

For several weeks, there have been reports that the NOFO would be a vehicle for fast-tracking a dramatic restructuring of the program, including a 30% cap on the funds that can be used for Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and other permanent housing, which is in the released NOFO. Currently, more than 80% of federal CoC funding in Illinois is used for these purposes—an evidence-backed, market-based approach to ending homelessness that also generates economic activity in the form of rent to property owners and on-site services.

“Rather than making drastic changes to the CoC program with no input from stakeholders or Congress, we urge HUD to renew existing grants for one more year as authorized by Congress to prevent a devastating gap. This will keep our community members safely, stably housed, and avoid pushing them back into homelessness,” said Mark Ishaug, President and CEO of Thresholds, one of the state’s largest providers of permanent supportive housing.

The CoC Program has longstanding bipartisan support. Illinois’ 19 CoC networks provide the foundation for local efforts to prevent and end homelessness, currently supporting more than 21,400 people maintaining permanent housing across the state, as well as more than 27,000 emergency and transitional beds. Across Illinois, federal CoC funding currently supports more than 330 CoC grants, totaling approximately $182.5 million, to nonprofit and local government agencies.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that 60% of all permanent supportive housing in Illinois is federally funded, although in many downstate and rural communities, the percentage is much higher.

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About Housing Action Illinois

About Thresholds

Founded in 1959, Thresholds provides healthcare, housing, and hope for thousands of persons with mental illnesses and substance use conditions in Illinois each year. Through care, employment, advocacy, and housing, Thresholds assists and inspires people with mental illnesses to reclaim their lives. Learn more about Thresholds at thresholds.org.

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Chicago, IL 60603
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Affordable Housing is Out of Reach for Low-Wage Illinois Workers

Kristin Ginger — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 13:43:33 +0000

Rent continues to be much higher than what many can afford; families face elimination of rent assistance under proposed federal cuts

For Immediate Release: July 17, 2025
Contact: Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333

CHICAGO, IL – A full-time worker in Illinois must earn $29.81 per hour to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment–nearly double the state’s minimum wage of $15 per hour. This is Illinois’ 2025 Housing Wage according to Out of Reach, a report published jointly today by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and Housing Action Illinois.

Released annually, the Out of Reach report documents the gulf between wages and what people need to earn to afford their rents. The Housing Wage is an estimate of the hourly wage full-time workers must earn to afford a rental home at HUD’s Fair Market Rent (FMR) without spending more than 30% of their incomes.
Additional findings for Illinois include:

In the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville metro area, the Housing Wage is $33.87 (based on a 2-BR FMR of $1,761).
The state’s highest Housing Wage is in the Kendall County metro area, at $36.27 (based on a 2-BR FMR of $1,886).
The House Wage is more than $20 per hour in many metro areas of Illinois, including Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, DeKalb, Grundy County, Kankakee County, Rockford, Springfield and the metro east area of St. Louis.
Even in rural counties, the lowest the Housing Wage in Illinois is $16.73 (based on a 2-BR FMR of $870).
For those of fixed incomes, the housing market is often much worse. For example, a SSI recipient can only afford to pay $290 per month in rent based on receiving $967 in monthly assistance.

Nationally, the 2025 Housing Wage for a two-bedroom apartment is $33.63 per hour.

Despite this affordability crisis, federal housing assistance is at risk. On Monday, July 14, House Republicans passed their HUD budget proposal for next year through a subcommittee. While not as drastic as the Trump administration’s proposed 44% overall budget cut for HUD, under the House proposal, inadequate funding still will potentially push nearly 415,000 low-income households across the country off of assistance or cause them to face eviction.

“The House Wage has increased compared to last year; rents keep increasing,” said Bob Palmer, Policy Director for Housing Action Illinois. “The budget that House Republicans passed earlier this week includes unjust and short-sighted deep cuts to public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher Program, as well as inadequate funding for Homeless Assistance Grants, which will result in people losing their assistance and getting evicted.”

Recipients of Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs) are particularly vulnerable to becoming homeless if they lose their assistance. EHVs, created in 2021, have provided life-saving housing for 59,000 households nationwide, including over 1,800 in Illinois. But the proposed federal budget includes no dedicated funding to continue the program, placing families back on the brink of homelessness.

Allison’s Story: Allison,* a mother of an 8-year-old, moved from shelter into stable housing with an EHV. The voucher gave her the stability to find a job and support her family. It provided her a way to secure a home with a kitchen to cook meals in, a room for her son to sleep in, and a place from which to work. Without the voucher Allison cannot afford the rent.

“It feels particularly cruel that people who got a voucher that ended their homelessness may now have that assistance stripped away. Congress must increase funding for rent assistance, so that shelters and other service providers have resources to assist individuals and families move from homelessness to being housed,” said Jennifer Hill, Executive Director of the Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County. “The budget proposals we have seen so far will only increase evictions and homelessness, because so much of our work relies on being able to assist people to secure apartments in the private market.”

Stories like Allison’s illustrate the vital role of rental assistance in ending homelessness. Without continued federal funding, thousands of Illinois families face losing the homes that have helped them rebuild their lives.

*Allison is a pseudonym; her story was collected by a social services provider and submitted to the Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County.

For additional information, and to download the report, visit: http://www.nlihc.org/oor

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About Housing Action Illinois

Housing Action is a statewide coalition that has been leading the movement to end homelessness, address the shortage of affordable rental housing, and expand homeownership opportunities in Illinois for more than 35 years. Our 190+ member organizations include housing counseling agencies, homeless service providers, developers of affordable housing, and policymakers. We bring everyone together to work toward our vision of an Illinois where everyone has a stable, good home.

Join Our Email List

Housing Action Illinois
67 E. Madison Street, Suite 1603
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 939-6074 • info@housingactionil.org

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New Report Highlights Harmful Effects of Crime-Free Housing Ordinances, Urges Illinois to Strengthen Tenant Protections

Kristin Ginger — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 15:57:52 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2025

Housing Action Illinois Contact: Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications and Development, 312-854-3333 (office), kristin@housingactionil.org
CLCCRUL Contact: Zindy Marquez, Director of Communications, 312.202.3657 (office), zmarquez@clccrul.org

CHICAGO, IL – Today, the Community Safety Through Stable Homes Coalition released a critical report titled “The Discriminatory Enforcement of Illinois’ Crime-Free and Nuisance Property Ordinances” describing the harms that Crime-Free and Nuisance Property Ordinances (CFNOs) cause. CFNOs are local laws that force or pressure landlords to evict tenants based on 911 calls or alleged “nuisance” activity, even without evidence, charges, arrests, or convictions. The report highlights the urgent need to enact stronger statewide protections for groups most at risk from the enforcement of CFNOs. The Illinois General Assembly is considering the Community Safety Through Stable Homes Act (SB 2264), which would protect tenants’ right to call for emergency services, protect families from eviction, and ensure due process for renters. This bill is an important step to safeguard civil rights at the state level as civil rights protections and enforcement are being gutted nationwide.

The authors of this report are members of the Community Safety Through Stable Homes Coalition, a group of grassroots, fair housing, victim service, and legal aid organizations from across the state that are seeking to finally end the harmful enforcement of CFNOs.

“Crime-free housing ordinances do not create safe communities – instead, they punish renters for calling for emergency services and destabilize families,” said Jacob Cantor, Legal Fellow with Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights. “These ordinances violate civil rights and other state laws and there is no evidence that they reduce crime. Illinois must pass SB 2264 to ensure people are protected from unfair enforcement and that families can get the help they need without the fear of losing their home.”

Some key findings from the report include:

CFNOs punish renters for calling 911 for help, whether they need the police or emergency medical services. This puts survivors of domestic and sexual violence, as well as people with disabilities, at risk.
CFNOs are often triggered solely by arrest or other contact with law enforcement without any convictions or proof of wrongdoing, which disproportionately harms renters of color who are more likely to be arrested or interact with the police.
The fear of eviction caused by CFNOs discourage renters from calling the police or emergency services, making communities less safe.
For the above reasons, the enforcement of CFNOs across Illinois violates state and federal civil rights laws including the Illinois Human Rights Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Violence Against Woman Act.

In Illinois, 57% of municipalities with a population over 20,000 have a CFNO. These ordinances are often passed and implemented when there are actual or perceived changes in racial demographics. This trend means that diversifying communities across the state are at risk of increased enforcement from these ordinances.

“No one should have to choose between calling 911 for help and keeping their home,” said Dominic Voz, Director of Fair Housing at Open Communities. “Crime-free housing ordinances put survivors of violence and other vulnerable renters at risk by making them afraid to seek emergency assistance. It’s time for Illinois to pass additional protections for renters to stop the harmful enforcement of these ordinances.”

The Community Safety Through Stable Homes Coalition is urging Illinois lawmakers to pass SB 2264, the Community Safety Through Stable Homes Act. Every renter deserves the right to call for help without the fear of losing their home. This legislation is a crucial step toward ensuring housing stability, protecting civil rights, and making communities safer for all.

Read the full report here.

Read the one-pager here.

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Housing Action Illinois: Housing Action is a statewide coalition that has been leading the movement to end homelessness, address the shortage of affordable rental housing, and expand homeownership opportunities in Illinois for more than 35 years. Our 190+ member organizations include housing counseling agencies, homeless service providers, developers of affordable housing, and policymakers. We bring everyone together to work toward our vision of an Illinois where everyone has a stable, good home.

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights: Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights is a non-partisan, non-profit group of civil rights lawyers and advocates working to secure racial equity and economic opportunity for all. We provide legal representation through partnerships with the private bar, and we collaborate with grassroots organizations and other advocacy groups to implement community-based solutions that advance civil rights. For more information, visit www.clccrul.org or call (312) 630-9744.

New Data Shows Dire Shortage of Affordable Homes in Illinois as Proposed Cuts Threaten to Worsen Crisis

Kristin Ginger — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:51:39 +0000

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2025
Contact: Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333

CHICAGO, IL – A new report by Housing Action Illinois and the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, finds that there are only 34 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households in Illinois.

The report finds that 442,902 extremely low-income renter households live in Illinois, but only 149,135 affordable rental homes are available to them–leaving a staggering shortage of 293,767 affordable rental homes. To meet this need, we would need two more affordable, available rental homes for every one that is currently available.

The picture is even worse in the Chicago metro area, where only 28 affordable and available homes exist per every 100 extremely low-income renters. Nationwide, the gap stands at 7.1 million homes.

“The budget legislation for the rest of the fiscal year that recently passed the House does not provide enough funding to support all the existing Housing Choice Vouchers and is bad overall for federal programs that end homelessness and create affordable housing,” said Bob Palmer, Policy Director of Housing Action Illinois. “Seventy-five percent (75%) of Illinois’ lowest-income renters spend more than half their income on housing, with little left over for necessities like food and healthcare. We need more investments in housing, not cuts, to prevent additional families from facing homelessness.”

Even for those with a slightly larger household budget, there are not nearly enough options available; in Illinois, there are only 64 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 households in Illinois at 50% or below the Area Median Income (AMI).

Gutting HUD’s vital programs will only worsen the systemic shortage of affordable housing, leaving more Illinois families without a safe, stable place to call home.

Released annually, The Gap investigates the affordability and availability of rental homes for households of different income levels nationwide and in every state and major metropolitan area. For the full report, visit: https://nlihc.org/gap

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About Housing Action Illinois

Illinois Must Keep Increasing Investments to End Homelessness

Kristin Ginger — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:50:52 +0000

After two years of significant budget increases, the proposed FY26 budget reduces existing funding

For immediate release: February 19, 2025
Contact: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333

This statement is on behalf of Housing Action Illinois and the Illinois Shelter Alliance.

Governor Pritzker’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, announced today, includes $282.7 million for the HOME Illinois line item, a 2.6% percent reduction compared to the current year funding of $290.3 million.

The proposal also allocates $72.4 million in additional funding for these programs: Emergency and Transitional Housing, Homelessness Prevention, Homeless Youth, and Supportive Housing. These are flat-funded compared to the current year budget. The HOME Illinois line item provides additional funding for the programs listed above, as well as many other programs, such as court-based rent assistance, shelter diversion, and rapid rehousing.

Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly have made significant new investments over the last two years to support the HOME Illinois plan, which reversed a long history of state budgets with no or only very minimal budget increases from year to year.

Unfortunately, the proposed FY26 budget does not build on that progress; instead, it has a decrease. We understand the State of Illinois’ budget challenges and we appreciate efforts by the governor’s office and state agencies to use existing resources as effectively as possible by increasing some specific uses for HOME Illinois while decreasing others.

However, it is critical to continue increasing overall funding each year, particularly for emergency shelters, which serve people with absolutely no place else to go. It will take many years of consistent, significant investments to meet the plan’s goals of reaching functional zero homelessness, where instances of people not having a home are rare and brief.

All HOME Illinois programs, including funds that go to homeless shelters, rely on a strong network of nonprofit agencies around the state to implement the programs working with people in crisis. In addition to the benefits to the families and individuals being served, these agencies provide jobs and contribute to Illinois’ economy.

The State’s two-year HOME Illinois plan, released near the end of 2024, estimated a shelter bed deficit of 5,379 beds statewide, based on 10,044 being available. There is also a deficit of 10,972 permanent supportive housing units and other rental housing necessary to end homelessness.

Based on the shortage of shelter beds, more than 5,000 people at a time—many of them children—will continue to struggle for daily survival. As the Illinois Shelter Alliance and 250+ organizational partners stated in our December 23 letter to Governor Pritzker requesting a $100 million budget increase for HOME Illinois, including $40 million for shelter: every shelter bed that does not exist represents a person, often a child, who has literally no place to call home.

The lack of emergency shelter often forces people to live outside, in a car and/or a place where their physical safety and life is at risk. For the most vulnerable, including people who are victims of domestic violence and people with mental illness, having access to emergency shelter makes the difference between life and death.

Last year, the Illinois Department of Public Health completed a five-year Homeless Morbidity and Mortality Report. Based on the findings, the average life expectancy for someone experiencing homelessness is nearly 20 years less than someone not experiencing homelessness. In addition, people experiencing homelessness had $16 billion in emergency medical costs over five years.

We support the Governor’s focus on fiscal responsibility. However, under-funding shelter and housing is shortsighted and ultimately results in higher healthcare spending.

We urge the Governor and legislature to address this imbalance by funding additional shelter and affordable rental housing, including permanent supportive housing, in the final fiscal year 2026 budget.

The vast majority of the state budget supports basic human needs, like K-12 public education, and the proposed state budget rightly included funding increases for certain high priorities. We also ask Governor Pritzker and the General Assembly to ensure that the State of Illinois also has adequate revenue to keep making progress towards meeting all our high priorities, including making sure everyone has access to shelter if they need it, as well as an affordable place to call home.

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About Housing Action Illinois

Housing Action is a statewide coalition that has been leading the movement to end homelessness, address the shortage of affordable rental housing, and expand homeownership opportunities in Illinois for more than 35 years. Our 180+ member organizations include housing counseling agencies, homeless service providers, developers of affordable housing, and policymakers. We bring everyone together to work toward our vision of an Illinois where everyone has a stable, good home.

About Illinois Shelter Alliance

The Illinois Shelter Alliance, formed in 2022, is a coalition of 68 emergency shelter and transitional housing agencies, as well as their allies, who believe housing and shelter are human rights. We are working together to ensure that our communities meet this basic human need for everyone. For more information, please contact: Doug Kenshol, Co-Founder of the Illinois Shelter Alliance and Executive Director of South Suburban PADS, at dkenshol@sspads.org or 708-704-0143 (cell).