Resources for Homeowners

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.

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.

HomeSales.gov provides 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.

Illinois Housing Development Authority

City of Chicago: Affordable Chicago Initiative

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.”

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.

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.