Resources to Prevent Foreclosure

Housing Action Illinois does not provide direct assistance to people looking for affordable housing, but we hope that the following websites and resources might be of use.

For resources related to the COVID-19 public health crisis, please visit this page, which is being updated regularly and includes information on any mortgage assistance programs currently available.

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.

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.

Making Home Affordable is the federal government website for consumers seeking information about the Making Home Affordable loan modification and refinancing program.  The website includes information about program eligibility, how to determine if your loan is owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, how to find a HUD-certified housing counseling agency and other resources.

Circuit Court of Cook County Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program (Now Closed): The Circuit Court of Cook County Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program was an unprecedented partnership between the Circuit Court of Cook County and several state and local organizations who assist Cook County homeowners who have mortgages in foreclosure. The program has come to a close and is no longer accepting appointments. If you are a homeowner looking for foreclosure prevention assistance, contact a housing counselor to help you understand what options are available to you. To find legal aid resources for homeowners in foreclosure in Cook County, visit here.

Consumer Fraud Bureau is responsible for handling a broad spectrum of consumer protection activities. Its focus is to protect Illinois residents from fraudulent or dishonest business practices. 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. In addition to litigation, the Consumer Fraud Bureau also drafts legislation, comments on proposed rules and legislation, and follows emerging consumer problems and issues.

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 Housing Counselor through the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): Housing counselors throughout the country can provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, and credit issues. Using this site, you can find one near you. The counseling agencies on this list are approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and can offer independent advice about whether a particular set of mortgage loan terms is a good fit based on your objectives and circumstances, often at little or no cost to you.

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.

Additional Resources  

Housing Action Illinois

Housing Action Illinois addresses the issue of foreclosure through training housing counselors and advocating for resources for their agencies; learn more about our Capacity Building for housing counselors here »