Bob Palmer

Bob Palmer (he/him), Policy Director for Housing Action Illinois, has more than 30 years of experience in housing organizing, advocacy, training, and finance. He joined Housing Action in September 2002. He has been a leader on successful campaigns to create and fund a state rental subsidy program for extremely low-income households, secure money for affordable housing in Illinois’ capital budget for the first time, pass state legislation protecting homeowners and renters during the foreclosure process, and increase state funding to prevent and end homelessness. Recent wins include new rules and funding protecting children in Illinois from lead poisoning, state law protections for homebuyers considering rent-to-own contracts, getting more than $300 million in federal funding dedicated in the state budget for COVID-19-related emergency rent and mortgage assistance, and working with partners to pass statewide “source of income” fair housing protections.

Bob was on the board of the National Low Income Housing Coalition between 2013 and 2022. He holds a certificate in Urban Housing Development and a Masters Degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He earned his B.A. in Psychology from Beloit College.