Latest Updates
Springfield Lame Duck Wrap-Up: Progress on Black Caucus Agenda, Including Housing Issues
The Illinois General Assembly convened in Springfield for a lame duck session from January 8–13. Most of the legislative activity focused on the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus' agenda, which was focused on dismantling systemic racism. Among the many important parts...
Illinois Community Reinvestment Act Passed by General Assembly as Part of Black Caucus’ Economic Equity Pillar
For Immediate Release: January 13, 2021 Contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333, Brent Adams, Senior Vice President of Policy & Communication, badams@woodstockinst.org, 312-368-0310...
Spotlight on Apna Ghar: Home, Gender-Based Violence, and the “Perfect Storm” of a Pandemic
Note: This spotlight discusses domestic violence at large as well as its relationship to COVID-19. When Apna Ghar first started more than 30 years ago, the organization staffed a 24/7 crisis line and operated emergency shelter for women and children. They have grown...
2020 Silver Linings
Silver Linings in 20202020 has been a difficult year—marked by the COVID-19 public health crisis, related economic downturn, and widespread social unrest in response to systemic racism. A heartbreaking number of people are facing housing insecurity at a time when it...
RTLO Week of Action
We need your help to pass protections for 245,000+ renter households in Cook County living in communities without a comprehensive tenant-landlord ordinance. For thirty years, renters living in Chicago, Evanston, and Mount Prospect have benefited from municipal...
AmeriCorps Spotlight: Tracking Inequalities for Housing Advocacy
After earning her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from University of Illinois, Krista Weller wanted to continue the work she had started as an intern for Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL). INCIL is a statewide non-profit that uses a...
Spotlight: Virtual Housing Counseling and Accessibility during COVID-19
When Wanda met Michael, he was staying at the Pacific Garden Mission shelter. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic meant he was doing an apartment search virtually, which was a challenge compounded by his disability. He wasn’t sure if he could trust that photos would line up...
Tell Your Legislators to Act During Veto Session
During the Illinois veto session, our legislators will have the chance to pass protections for renters on the brink of losing their homes. The pandemic has only exacerbated our longstanding eviction crisis, as COVID-19 has caused unprecedented economic instability for...
Despite Fair Tax Outcome, Our Work for Economic Equity Continues
Housing Action Illinois is proud that more than two million Illinoisans voted Yes on the Fair Tax this election. Unfortunately, this was not enough to pass the reform, which would have made our tax system fairer and helped address our state’s structural deficit. The...
Urge Your Commissioner to Protect All Renters in Cook County
We need your help to pass protections for 245,000+ renter households in Cook County living in communities without a comprehensive landlord-tenant ordinance. For thirty years, renters living in Chicago, Evanston, and Mount Prospect have benefited from municipal...