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Newsletter
Recent Updates
Speak Up Today for More Equitable Community Investment
The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) is a critical civil rights tool for preventing redlining and promoting bank investment in low-income communities, especially communities of color. The importance of the CRA has become even more clear as COVID-19 lays bare the...
Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign Welcomes New State Grantees, Including Housing Action Illinois
For Immediate Release: February 1, 2021 Contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 The Opportunity Starts at Home multi-sector affordable homes campaign is pleased to announce that it has...
Cook County Board unanimously passes historic Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance, extending renter protections to 245,000 suburban households
For Immediate Release: January 28, 2021 Contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 SCHAUMBURG, IL – Today, the Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed the Residential Tenant...
Advocates Call on Cook County Commissioners to Pass Basic Renter Rights
Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance will make rental landscape fairer for suburban renters For Immediate Release: January 25, 2021Contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 CHICAGO –...
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...
Commissioners Have Opportunity to Protect All Cook County Renters
By Gianna Baker, Michelle Gilbert, Michael Rabbitt and Sheila Sutton The proposed Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance (RTLO), which will go to a vote by the Cook County Board of Commissioners this week, is far from revolutionary. It creates basic floors for landlord...
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...
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...
Media Placements
Despite BUILD’s failure, housing advocates celebrate legislative wins, Capitol News Illinois, 6/12/26
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