Media
Press Releases
Housing Action Illinois Joins National Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign as State Partner
For Immediate Release: July 22, 2019 For more information contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 Housing Action Illinois is excited to become a formal state partner of Opportunity Starts at...
Nowhere in Illinois Can Low-Wage Workers Afford Rent, But New Investments Promise Brighter Future
Renters must earn more than $20 per hour to afford two-bedroom apartment, but fresh investments will begin to alleviate housing costs and address homelessness For Immediate Release: June 18, 2019 For more information contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager,...
Build UP Illinois Applauds Governor Pritzker’s Proposal to Invest in Affordable Housing in Capital Budget
Proposal is a good foundation, but more is needed For Immediate Release: May 21, 2019For more information contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 SPRINGFIELD, IL – Community leaders and...
Just Housing Amendment passes, protecting over 1 million people in Cook County from housing discrimination
Amendment will ban housing discrimination against people with records and come into effect this November For Immediate Release: April 26, 2019 For more information contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or...
Advocates Call for Fair Housing Protections for People With Arrest & Conviction Records
Just Housing Initiative amendment will ban housing discrimination based on records, supporting over 1 million Cook County adults while reducing recidivism and strengthening families For Immediate Release: April 16, 2019 For more information contact: Kristin Ginger,...
Report: Housing Demand Has Outpaced Supply, Especially for Low-Income Illinois Families
A new report shows that Illinois has only 35 available, affordable rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income households.
CMS Guide 2.0 Released to Help Housing Counseling Agencies Replace HCO
Housing Action Illinois has just published an updated version of its Guide to HUD-approved Client Management Systems (CMSs). The digital resource, which is available for free online, helps users assess their options through an at-a-glance comparison chart and detailed...
Housing Action Illinois Awarded $1.2 Million in Housing Counseling Funds
33 Agencies to Receive Sub-Grants to Help Families Rent or Buy Affordable Homes CHICAGO – HUD has awarded $1,259,176 to Housing Action Illinois to distribute funds to local nonprofits whose housing counseling programs help families rent or buy safe,...
Report: Nowhere in Illinois Can Low-Wage Workers Afford Rent; Candidates Need to Address This Crisis
Every candidate seeking office should have a plan to address the fact that renters in Illinois must earn more than $20 per hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment For Immediate Release: June 13, 2018 For more information contact: Timm Krueger, Communications...
Congress Should Consider the Gap in Affordable Rental Homes for the Poorest Households as They Finalize This Year’s Federal Budget
The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, a new report released today by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and Housing Action Illinois, finds a severe shortage of affordable rental homes for the extremely low-income (ELI) renter households...
Housing Action In The Media
2025
GoFundMe campaigns for food and housing increase 20% in 2025, WBEZ, 12/23/25
H.U.D. Won’t Renew Existing Contracts to Aid Homeless, Streetwise, 12/2/25
Spotlight on Pro Bono: A Home for the Holidays, The Bar News, 12/1/25
Budzinski intervenes in local housing dispute on behalf of low-income residents, Capitol News Illinois, 11/25/25
City Plans on Closing North Park Homeless Encampment Next Year, Block Club Chicago, 11/18/25
New Federal Rules Could Put Formerly Unhoused People Back Out on The Streets Across Illinois, Illinois Answers Project, 11/18/25
Illinois groups urge Trump Administration to reconsider plan they say risks homelessness, ABC NewsChannel 20/WICS, 11/17/25
As affordable homes vanish, Rockford leaders seek solutions to a mounting crisis, WTVO ABC 17 | WQRF FOX 39 | MyStateline.com, 11/13/25
State Tax Credit Roundup: The Upper Midwest, Tax Credit Advisor, 11/3/25
Capital One partners with Chicago nonprofit to fund ideas for affordable housing solutions, Chicago Sun-Times, 10/29/2025
(click here for audio), WGLT, 10/17/25
DeKalb tenants, landlords invited to learn about new fair housing bill, Shaw Local, 9/24/25
Rent is becoming unaffordable to Illinoisans according to new report, WMBD, 7/31/25
North Park Homeless Encampment to be Shut Down After Recent Fires: ‘Where Will I Go?’, Block Club Chicago, 7/30/25
Why is it So Expensive to Build Affordable Housing in Chicago? Block Club Chicago, 7/28/25
Cutting Housing Counseling is a Grave Mistake, The Progressive, 7/25/25
Federal housing credit expansion could increase affordable rental units in Illinois: report, Capitol News Illinois, 7/22/2025
Pritzker to sign crackdown on squatters, spokesperson confirms, NBC Chicago, 7/21/2025
Are modular homes and ‘granny flats’ the answer to Chicago’s housing crisis? WBEZ Chicago, 7/15/2025
Eye On Illinois: ‘Functional zero’ homelessness target moving wrong direction, Shaw Local News Network, 7/8/2025
Housing funding cut in Illinois budget as homelessness increases, Capitol News Illinois, 7/4/25
Chicago area ranks among nation’s most expensive rental markets, Crain’s Chicago Business, 7/3/25
Illinois rental assistance program sees funding cut for 2026 budget in another blow to state, city housing programs, Chicago Tribune, 6/5/25
Cook County hits pause on tax sales deemed unconstitutional, Crain’s Chicago Business, 6/4/25
Programs for low income and homeless people are on the federal chopping block, NPR Illinois, 5/29/25
When Seniors Face Expensive Home Repairs, the Solutions Can be a Lifeline…Or Leave Their Families an Inheritance of Debt, Illinois Answers Project, 5/27/25
Illinois is the last state still unlawfully stripping wealth from homeowners in tax foreclosures, Chicago Sun-Times, Investigative Project on Race and Equity and Injustice Watch, 5/16/25
‘Crime Free Housing’ ordinances sometimes used to evict tenants with minor offense, WGN-TV, 5/14/25
Investigation shows how even minor offenses can lead to eviction in Illinois under so called ‘crime free housing’ laws, WBEZ/Reset, 5/14/25
Under ‘Crime-Free Housing’ Laws, Families May Be Evicted for Minor Offenses, New York Times, 5/13/25
Chicago This Week Episode E3, CAN TV, 4/28/25
How Housing Code Enforcement Shapes Stability and Access to Safe Homes, Urban Institute’s Housing Matters, 4/17/25
Illinois bill would limit ‘crime-free’ laws that evict tenants for too many 911 calls, Chicago Sun Times, 4/6/25
Affordable Rental Housing Shortage, WGN News, 3/27/25
Homeless decriminalization bill makes it to the House Floor, WAND TV, 3/24/25
New report highlights affordable housing crisis for low-income renters in the Quad Cities, WQAD 8, 3/20/25
Housing experts worry about federal plans to cut homelessness programs, NPR Illinois/91.9 UIS, 3/19/25
IL Senate committee approves bill protecting families from crime free housing evictions, WAND TV, 3/19/25
Trump’s HUD cuts would devastate Illinois, Chicago Sun-Times, 3/10/25
Opinion: Trump administration wants to gut HUD. Illinois can’t afford to lose it., Crain’s Chicago Business, 3/7/25
Government officials: Criminalizing homelessness is not a solution, Chicago Tribune, 3/6/25
Concerns over homeless prevention programs rise as cuts loom, WCIA, 2/25/25
Gov. Pritzker’s proposal to fund resources for the homeless in Illinois, Our Quad Cities News, 2/24/25
Extra rent fees could be banned in new rental transparency bill, WAND TV, 2/14/25
Advocates ask Illinois lawmakers to increase funding for the unhoused in new budget, WGLT, 2/4/25
Homelessness could no longer be a crime under a new plan filed in Springfield, WAND TV, 1/24/25
County is short millions for supportive housing, NPR Illinois, 1/21/25
Housing Action Illinois and Heartland Housed among many asking for state budget increase, Fox Illinois, 1/8/25
2024
2024 Media Placements
Chicago program merging migrant, homeless services starts in new year, News Nation, 12/31/24
Human Right: Five Funders Backing Housing Justice, Inside Philanthropy, 12/13/24
Q&A: HUD official on preparing the next generation of homeowners, WGLT, 10/18/24
Minimum wage workers in Illinois need 2 full-time jobs to make rent, housing report finds, Belleville News-Democrat, 8/14/24
Chicago, Illinois Advocates Hope Impact of Supreme Court’s Homelessness Ruling Muted Locally, WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, 7/1/24
State adds two migrant shelters months before DNC, causing objections from lawmakers, Chicago Tribune, 6/28/24
Illinois Legislature Provides A Roadmap For Progress With Its State-Level Community Reinvestment Act, NCRC, 6/17/24
Illinois made a bold promise to end poverty. In Alexander County, it’s hard to tell., Northern Public Radio, 6/11/24
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination, Capitol News Illinois, 4/30/24
Congresswoman Ramirez, Housing Leaders Unveil the Future of Housing: Bold, Progressive, Affordable, Sustainable, Press Release, 4/26/24
Illinois Community Reinvestment Act, The Woodstock Report on WVON1690 AM, 4/24/24
Over 100 groups demand action: United call for vote count in Bring Chicago Home case, Chicago Crusader, 3/2/24
It’s getting harder for towns to ignore their lack of affordable housing, Crain’s Chicago Business, 2/26/24
Op-ed: Illinois should protect tenants, property owners from harms of ‘crime-free’ housing laws, Chicago Tribune, 2/23/24
One of Chicago’s toughest problems is creating homes for the unhoused, Chicago Sun-Times, 2/15/24
Proposal in Springfield seeks to stop evictions spurred by police calls, Chicago Sun-Times, 2/9/24
What’s the best way to count Chicago’s homeless population?, WBEZ’s Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons, 1/29/24
Aurora group seeks to support migrants as they discuss ongoing challenges in the city, Nothern Public Radio, 1/24/24
2023
2023 Media Placements
Rep. Davis joins in introducing bill that helps pay rent, Chicago Crusader 12/26/23
Bring Chicago Home: Guess who’s saying no again, Windy City Times 12/4/23
Task force to recommend property tax payment plan to prevent homeowner displacement, The Crusader, 8/22/23
A Controversial Investment Tool Is Devastating Homeowners, Dwell, 8/21/23
Task Force to Recommend Property Tax Payment Plan to Prevent Homeowner Displacement, The Southland Journal, 8/14/23
Where are most vacant homes in St. Clair County and what can communities do about it?, Belleville News-Democrat, 6/29/23
New report finds that affordable rental housing is nearly out of reach in Illinois, WICS ABC 7, 6/23/23
Illinois to spend over $350 million to address homelessness, The Center Square, 6/20/23
Debt ceiling deal could mean fewer Housing Choice Vouchers to go around, advocate warns, WCBU, 6/20/23
Affordable rental housing is out of reach for millions of low-wage workers, WBEZ’s Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons, 6/16/23
Studies show rent prices outpacing wages in Illinois, WMBD, 6/15/23
Can’t afford a 2-bedroom rental in Chicago? There’s a reason why, WGN Radio, 6/14/23
What does it take to afford a 2-bedroom rental in Chicago? New report finds wages still lagging, Chicago Tribune, 6/14/23
Housing associations discuss affordable housing crisis resolutions, WICS ABC 7, 5/17/23
Black families to benefit, eventually, from income discrimination ban in Illinois, News and Tribune, 5/11/23
Heat Exposure Deaths Inspire Proposed Air Conditioning Requirements in Illinois, The Southland Journal, 4/23/23
Cook County’s property tax system needs reform. Here’s how to fix it., Chicago Sun-Times, 4/19/23
Toward Permanent Renter Protections, PD&R Edge, 4/18/23
Where are seniors supposed to live? Daily Journal, 4/15/23
HUD Training Partners in Action: Housing Action Illinois, Housing Counseling Today, 4/13/23
The rent is still too high for many Peorians to afford, WCBU, 3/28/23
Closing the affordable housing gap in Illinois, WBEZ’s Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons, 3/23/23
Affordable Rental Housing Crisis in Illinois, WCBU’s On Deck, 3/21/23
Will Community Benefits Extend Past Woodlawn?, South Side Weekly, 3/21/23
Report: Extreme shortage of rental homes in Illinois for low income families, WREX-TV, 3/17/23
Saving Black homes lost to tax inequity: A decades-old practice of selling tax debt is still causing families to lose their homes, The Emancipator (The Boston Globe), 2/22/23
Pritzker proposes $49.6 billion budget prioritizing education, human services, WAND-TV, 2/15/23
Southland legislator says bill would help prevent homeowners losing properties due to back taxes, Daily Southtown, 2/1/2023
Tax Sale Reform Bill addresses longtime displacement of Black and Brown families, Chicago Crusader, 1/25/2023