Latest Updates
Recent Updates
First Win: Court Protects Housing Counseling Funds For Now
We joined nine plaintiffs suing the Trump administration. Yesterday, a court paused the funding cutoff. Federal housing counseling funds are protected, for now. Yesterday, a judge ordered the delay of the expiration of $56 million in funding for HUD's housing...
HUD Hit With Lawsuit After Withholding Tens of Millions in Housing Grants
The Department of Housing and Urban Development abruptly cut approximately $56 million in funding and illegally altered its policies, putting thousands of families at risk of foreclosureFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 29, 2026 Media Contact: Kristin Ginger, Housing...
Community Outreach as an AmeriCorps VISTA: Spotlight on Lake-McHenry Habitat for Humanity
Alice Nicholson came to Lake-McHenry Habitat for Humanity as an AmeriCorps VISTA after a 30-year career in real estate, community development, and economic development across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including work with affordable housing...
Launching Housing Counseling Matters: 2026 Story Collection
Housing Action Illinois is collecting stories from professional housing counselors and clients to help illustrate how housing counseling makes a difference in our communities. We will use these stories to show the need for robust federal funding for housing counseling...
“You Don’t Need to Be in Crisis to Call”: Spotlight on Open Communities
“People are struggling and they just don’t know where to go. Even just to call someone and have them sort through various issues and identify resources gives people some stability or hope,” Sarah Delgado, Director of Housing Counseling and Education at Open...
Housing Wage in Illinois Now More than $30
For Immediate Release: July 23, 2026Contact: Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 CHICAGO, IL – Full-time workers need to earn $30.36 per hour to afford a modest, two-bedroom...
Deepening the Foundations of Community: Spotlight on Far South CDC
“If anyone comes to Far South and they say ‘I need help with housing’, they’re going to get service somehow, some way,” Director of Housing Services Cornelius Sams, Sr. says. “We don’t deny anyone that uses the word housing, because it's foundational to...
HUD Changes Could Push More than 5,000 Illinoisans Back Into Homelessness
For Immediate Release: June 26, 2026Contact: Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 CHICAGO, IL – A new analysis from the National Alliance to End Homelessness finds that 5,105...
Organizational Sign-On Letter: Protect the Equal Access Rule
Deadline: All comments must be submitted by 12:00 pm CT on Monday, June 29, 2026. Housing Action Illinois is urging organizations across the state to sign on to a letter opposing HUD’s proposed rescission of the Equal Access Rule (EAR). What is the Equal Access Rule?...
Applications Open for 2026-2027 Housing Action Corps Positions
UPDATE: Applications are now closed Start date: September 8, 2026 Each year, Housing Action Corps matches AmeriCorps members with community-based organizations across Illinois. AmeriCorps is a national service program that connects people and organizations to help end...
Press Releases
HUD Hit With Lawsuit After Withholding Tens of Millions in Housing Grants
The Department of Housing and Urban Development abruptly cut approximately $56 million in funding and illegally altered its policies, putting thousands of families at risk of foreclosureFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 29, 2026 Media Contact: Kristin Ginger, Housing...
Housing Wage in Illinois Now More than $30
For Immediate Release: July 23, 2026Contact: Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 CHICAGO, IL – Full-time workers need to earn $30.36 per hour to afford a modest, two-bedroom...
HUD Changes Could Push More than 5,000 Illinoisans Back Into Homelessness
For Immediate Release: June 26, 2026Contact: Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 CHICAGO, IL – A new analysis from the National Alliance to End Homelessness finds that 5,105...
Newsletter
Media Placements
Judge temporarily blocks part of Trump’s funding cancellation, POLITICO Pro, 9/30/26
HUD Funding Notice Upends Counseling Assistance, Shelterforce, 8/27/26
Here’s what Illinois workers need to make an hour to afford rent, report says, Belleville News-Democrat, 8/18/26
Why Illinois ranks last in country for building housing, Fox 32, 8/7/26
Illinois ranks second to last in U.S. on building new housing, Crain’s Chicago Business, 8/4/26
Housing Wage in Illinois Now More than $30, NewsBreak, 7/24/26
What the ROAD to Housing Act means for Chicago, Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ, 7/15/26
What federal housing reforms could mean for Evanston, Evanston Now, 6/29/26
Congress passes housing reform package. How would it impact the Chicago area?, WBEZ, 6/29/26
Despite BUILD’s failure, housing advocates celebrate legislative wins, Capitol News Illinois, 6/12/26
Illinois is one step closer to banning ‘junk fees’ and hidden charges on renters, Chicago Tribune, 6/11/26
Opinion: Building homes isn’t enough. Buyers need help, too., Crain’s Chicago Business, 6/9/26
Homelessness Isn’t Throwaway Issue, Chicago Sun-Times, 5/30/26
What is the BUILD Act and what could it mean for homeowners in Illinois if it’s passed? NBC Chicago, 5/29/26
Debate grows over Pritzker’s proposed BUILD housing plan, Fox 32 Chicago, 5/29/26
Cook County tax buyer industry would be phased out in ‘equity theft’ reform bill, Chicago Tribune, 5/28/26
Unlocking MISMO Housing Counseling Data: Insights from Industry Leaders, Actualizing Success, 5/7/26
Community organizers support Illinois bill restricting penalties for homelessness, The Daily Northwestern, 5/6/26
When the Feds Step Back on Fair Housing, Can States Step Up?, Shelterforce, 5/5/26
Illinois bill would curb homelessness penalties, Axios Chicago, 4/16/26
Even the Midwest Wants to Encourage More Housing Density, Heatmap, 4/9/26
Peoria new housing has significantly dropped since 2004, Central Illinois Proud, 4/6/26
City program wants to bring more families to the South Side and West Side one vacant lot at a time, Chicago Sun-Times, 4/3/26
Steps Illinois lawmakers could take to reform the state’s tax sale laws, Injustice Watch, 3/26/26
City Clears North Side Encampment Amid Cold Snap As Residents Wait For Housing, Block Club Chicago, 3/17/26
The Rundown: A Chicagoan’s life after deportation, WBEZ, 3/9/26
Moore: Pritzker embraces ‘abundance’ agenda with housing, nuclear proposals, Capitol News Illinois, 3/6/26
Chicago area short nearly 225,000 affordable rental units for its poorest residents, report finds, Chicago Sun-Times, 3/6/26
Will Governor Pritzker’s budget actually make housing more affordable?, WBEZ, 2/26/26
Fair housing groups hold informational session on housing voucher rights, Evanston RoundTable, 2/24/26
Proposed cuts to housing-first programs would be ‘going back like 30 years’, advocates warn, Chicago Tribune, 2/17/26
Budzinski Leads Illinois House Democrats in Demanding HUD Strengthen Housing Protections, RiverBender, 2/14/26
It’s crunch time for Cook County tax sales — and so far, Springfield isn’t helping, Crain’s Chicago Business, 2/12/26
New Humboldt Park Affordable Apartment Building Welcomes Residents: ‘I Can Breathe Now’, Block Club Chicago, 2/12/26
Plans are underway to end Cook County’s property tax sales, WBEZ, 2/12/26
Federal actions could make an affordable housing shortage worse, Crain’s Chicago Business, 2/9/26
Under Trump, HUD hardens the policies behind a program meant to shelter the city’s homeless population, Crain’s Chicago Business, 2/9/26












