Get Help With Housing

Chicago:

Mainstream Housing Waitlists in Chicago, is a list maintained by All Chicago, coordinator of Chicago’s Continuum of Care network of services to prevent and end homelessness.

City of Chicago-Affordable Rental Housing Resource List

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

Statewide:

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.

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 “Find Your Local Organization” link to find your local CIL.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority has been keeping homeownership affordable across Illinois since 1967. The have downpayment assistance and mortgage programs for first-time and repeat homebuyers. Depending on the program, up to $15,000 in assistance available. Find out more at ihdamortgage.org.

Homeownership financing is provided at favorable rates and terms through a loan from a private financial institution and guaranteed by USDA Rural Development, or by a direct loan with USDA Rural Development. See the list of all USDA Rural Housing Programs here »

HUD Homestore and realestatesales.gov provide current information about single-family homes for sale by the U.S. Federal Government. These previously owned homes are for sale by public auction or other method depending on the property.

Installment Sales Contract Notice to Buyers Fact Sheet: This fact sheet created by the Illinois Attorney General provides information on installment sales contracts (often called a “rent-to-own” contract or a “contract for deed”), one way move toward eventual home ownership. However, making payments over time without having legal ownership could leave a consumer in a vulnerable financial condition. The Installment Sales Contract Act is a law that details the responsibilities of the seller and the rights of the buyer. The seller must give buyers this Important Notice to Buyers and a copy of the sales contract at least 3 business days before the closing. By law it must also be made available on the Attorney General’s website.

The Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP) provides emergency rental assistance to tenants and landlords across Illinois who have pending case(s) in eviction court. Eligible applicants may qualify for up to $10,000 that can be applied to past due rent, up to $700 for court costs, and up to two months’ future rent to prevent housing displacement.

The Illinois Department of Human Services’ Homeless Prevention Program provides rental/mortgage assistance, utility assistance, approved case management and approved supportive services directly related to the prevention of homelessness to eligible individuals and families who are in danger of eviction, foreclosure, or homelessness, or are currently homeless. The program is designed to stabilize individuals and families in their existing homes, shorten the amount of time that individuals and families stay in shelters, and assist individuals and families with securing affordable housing.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development—Illinois Rent Relief & Eviction Resources: Links to resources related to eviction, rental payment assistance, and utility payment assistance.

Help Illinois Families Initiative is an initiative launched in June 2020 to help Illinois families access and afford home energy assistance and other essential services during COVID-19. The state budget authorizes the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) programs for eligible Illinoisans seeking emergency assistance to cover costs of utility bills, rent, temporary shelter, food, and other household necessities.

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 Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies website and click on “Find Your Local Agency.”

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. 

Eviction Help Illinois provides legal solutions for your housing issues. Get connected to free legal help for Illinois renters facing potential eviction and landlords not represented by a lawyer.

The Rental Assistance Program (RAP) provides funding to Chicagoans who are at risk of becoming homeless. RAP helps Chicagoans who have housing right now, but who may become homeless soon because they are experiencing a temporary loss or reduction in income that makes it difficult to pay rent. This program is intended to provide short-term support while promoting long-term housing stability.

Rentervention 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.

HOPE Hotline: Find a Housing Counselor. Homeowners who are behind on their mortgage payment can call the HOPE HOTLINE at 1.888.995.HOPE(4673) or contact one of the many HUD-certified housing counseling agencies throughout the state. Chicago residents may call 311 to be connected to a local housing counseling agency.

Illinois Housing Development Authority: Saving My Home brings together the services and resources of various state agencies and qualified participating non-profit agencies to help you identify resources that could help you keep your home.

Help Illinois Families Initiative is an initiative launched in June 2020 to help Illinois families access and afford home energy assistance and other essential services during COVID-19. The state budget authorizes the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) programs for eligible Illinoisans seeking emergency assistance to cover costs of utility bills, rent, temporary shelter, food, and other household necessities.

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 Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies website and click on “Find Your Local Agency.”

Consumer Information on Reverse Mortgages: This consumer education information from the Office of the Illinois Attorney General can help when deciding whether a reverse mortgage makes sense for you. It’s important to fully understand the terms of the loan and what other options you might have.

Home repair, modification, and weatherization programs: The Fix Our Homes Illinois campaign has created a directory of programs across Illinois that help homeowners repair, modify, or weatherize their homes.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) recognizes that investing in homes and communities throughout Illinois is an effective way to combat the ongoing effects of the housing crisis and assist with community revitalization efforts. In an effort to stabilize communities, they partner with local governments and non-profit organizations to offer programs that invest in vacant residential properties and return them to productive use, including home repair programs »

Home Repair Loans and Grants provide funds to elderly and low income homeowners to perform necessary repairs, improve or modernize a home, remove health and safety hazards, or make homes accessible for people with disabilities. See the list of all USDA Rural Housing Programs here »

The Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL) administers the Home Modification Program with funding from the State of Illinois. The program helps Illinoisans with disabilities make accessibility improvements to their homes so they can live more safely and independently in their communities.

For questions related to home repair, home repair scams, finding and hiring a contractor, paying for repairs, and more, visit the Home Repair and Construction webpage on the website of the Illinois Attorney General.

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.

The American Bar Assocation makes available Free Legal Answers, a virtual walk-in clinic where you can get answers to your civil legal questions for free from volunteer attorneys.

Eviction Help Illinois provides legal solutions for your housing issues. Get connected to free legal help for Illinois renters facing potential eviction and landlords not represented by a lawyer.

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.

You can submit an online complaint to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation about a variety of financial institutions regulated by those divisions, including but not limited to mortgage companies, mortgage loan originators and loan officers. People can file a complaint online here »

A safe, comfortable and affordable home is a basic need. If acquiring or maintaining appropriate housing becomes difficult, there may be ways the Office of the Attorney General can help. They have the authority to uphold many of the laws specifically designed to promote fairness in home financing, protect owners in housing-related transactions, and prevent home repair scams. While the Attorney General cannot act as an individual attorney, the office has developed a range of materials on homeownership and housing matters.

Find fair housing organizations on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website page »