Get Help With Housing

Chicago:

Mainstream Housing Waitlists in Chicago, is a list maintained by All Chicago, coordiantor of Chicago’s Contiuum 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

Rural Illinois:

USDA Housing Programs Illinois (rural areas only)

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

IHDA provides resources for homeowners across the state. Check out Illinois Housing Development Authority

USDA often provides funds for development in rural communities. See here for a summary of their programs: USDA Housing Programs Illinois

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 “Members.”.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Mortgage Information and Fraud Hotline: Homeowners who believe they may have been the victims of deceitful or fraudulent lending practices can get in touch with state mortgage fraud investigators by calling 1.800.532.8785 or the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation at 1.877.793.3470 to file a complaint.

Consumer Fraud Bureau is responsible for handling a broad spectrum of consumer protection activities. It engages in investigations of possible fraud or deception and, when appropriate, files enforcement actions in state or federal court. Some examples of types of businesses the Consumer Fraud Bureau investigates are: home repair companies, auto dealers, mortgage and payday lenders, student loan and mortgage servicers, immigration consultants, and drug companies. 

People can file a complaint here. 

People can file a complaint against state regulated banks and related institutions with IDFPR (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation) here.

Find a fair housing organization near you and their contact information on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website page »