Media
Press Releases
Report: Affordable Rents are Out of Reach for Minimum Wage Workers in Illinois; $225 Million in State Funding that Would Help Awaits Governor’s Signature
Renters must earn $19.98 to afford a two-bedroom apartment in IL, while nearly $225 million in emergency state funding for affordable housing is being held up to due to state budget impasse For Immediate Release: May 25, 2016For more information contact: Kristin...
Due to State Budget Impasse More than $107 Million in Dedicated Funds for Affordable Housing Are Going Unused
Without a State Budget the Affordable Housing Needs of More Than 172,000 People Will Be Needlessly Unmet For Immediate Release: December 21, 2015 For more information contact: Bob Palmer, Policy Director, Housing Action Illinois at 312-282-3959 (cell) or...
Not Even A Place In Line for Illinois Families Who Need Affordable Housing
Congress Can Act Before Thanksgiving to Restore Housing Vouchers Lost to Budget Cuts For Immediate Release: November 4, 2015Contact: Bob Palmer Policy Director, Housing Action Illinois, 312-282-3959 (cell) or bob@housingactionil.org. Seventy-two percent of waiting...
Survey Results: The State Budget Impasse Is Causing Homelessness in Illinois
Advocates Call for a Responsible Budget with Adequate Revenue For Immediate Release: September 10, 2015 For more information contact: Bob Palmer, Policy Director, Housing Action Illinois at 312-282-3959 (cell) or bob@housingactionil.org A survey of state-funded...
Reverse Mortgage Consumer Protections Signed Into Law
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 11, 2015 CONTACT: Bob Palmer, Policy Director, Housing Action Illinois, 312-282-3959 (cell) or bob@housingactionil.org State legislation to create consumer protections for seniors for considering a reverse mortgage, Senate Bill 1440, was...
Housing Action Illinois Awarded $307,000 in HUD Housing Counseling Funds: 12 Illinois and Indiana Agencies Will Receive Sub-Grants
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2015 CONTACT: David Young, Director of Technical Assistance, Housing Action Illinois, at 312-939-6074 ext. 202 or david@housingactionil.org Housing Action Illinois received $307,000 to channel resources to 12 housing counseling agencies...
Reverse Mortgage Consumer Protections Legislation Passes General Assembly
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 2, 2015 CONTACT: Bob Palmer, Policy Director, Housing Action Illinois, 312-282-3959 (cell) or bob@housingactionil.org or Maura Possley, Press Secretary, Illinois Attorney General, 312-914-2039 (cell) or mpossley@atg.state.il.us State...
Despite Renters in Illinois Needing to Earn $18.78 Per Hour in Order to Afford a Basic Two-Bedroom Apartment, House Budget Defunds National Housing Trust Fund
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. CT CONTACT: Bob Palmer, Policy Director, Housing Action Illinois, 312-282-3959 (cell) or bob@housingactionil.org Renters in Illinois need to earn $18.78 per hour in order to afford a basic two-bedroom apartment,...
Statements Applauding Decision to Release Funding for the National Housing Trust Fund
We are sharing with you the statement by Sheila Crowley, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), regarding yesterday's funding announcement for the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF). As NLIHC's state partner in Illinois, Housing...
Housing Action Illinois is Now a HUD Housing Counseling Intermediary
Coalition Uses Collaborative Approach in Developing Community Based Partnership Model Housing Action Illinois announced its designation by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a HUD Approved Housing Counseling Intermediary, serving Illinois...
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