Latest Updates
Newsletter
Recent Updates
COVID-19 Update: Federal & State Action on Housing & Homelessness
Federal Coronavirus Response Package Includes Funding for Homelessness & Housing After long days of advocacy and negotiation, Congress has reached a bipartisan agreement on a $2 trillion direct spending bill to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate...
Housing Advocacy Groups Call On Governor Pritzker to Urge Banks to Prevent Foreclosures Due to COVID-19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2020 CONTACT: A.M. Triche, NHS Marketing & Communications, atriche@nhschicago.org or 312-619-7771 Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333...
Tell Congress: Coronavirus Response Must Address Homelessness & Housing
How do you stay home when you're homeless? How do you practice social distancing or self-isolate when you live in close quarters with others? What if you're can't work because of the pandemic—but can't pay rent without your paycheck? People experiencing homelessness...
Census 2020: Your Invite is in the Mail
Today, the Census Bureau is mailing out census forms to every household in the country, and the online census form goes live. The census, required by our constitution and conducted every 10 years, is a count of every individual living in the United States. That means...
Report: Affordable Housing Scarce in Illinois, Census to Affect Related Programs
Illinois has only 36 available, affordable rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income households; the 2020 census will determine funding for federal programs that alleviate shortage FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 10, 2020 CONTACT: Kristin Ginger, Manager of...
Add Your Voice to Protect CRA Investment in Low-Income Communities
We need your voice. The Trump Administration is working to roll back basic civil rights protections and open the door for housing discrimination. A series of recent attacks makes this clear, including a proposal to weaken the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). The...
Add Your Voice to Protect Fair Housing
We need your voice. The Trump Administration is working to roll back basic civil rights protections and open the door for housing discrimination. A series of recent attacks makes this clear, including a proposal to gut Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing. The Fair...
Getting Out the Count for Census 2020
A complete, accurate census count is critical for us and our communities. What is the Census? Every 10 years, the United States counts the people in this country. We call this process the Census. Everyone counts: babies, children, teens, adults, older adults. ...
2020 Policy Agenda
Each year, Housing Action Illinois works on a broad range of issues aligned with our core mission of creating an Illinois where everyone has a good, affordable place to call home. Below are some of our priorities for the 2020 Illinois General Assembly session, as well...
A Place to Call Home: Stories from Supportive Housing Residents
A Place to Call Home, a new story collection published jointly by Housing Action Illinois and the Supportive Housing Providers Association (SHPA), shares the experiences of Illinoisans who have been homeless in their own words. Their lives and perspectives help shed...
Press Releases
Housing Action Illinois Awarded $698,000 in HUD Housing Counseling Funds: 26 Agencies to Receive Sub-Grants
Housing Action Illinois has been awarded $698,000 by HUD to channel resources to local organizations to help families and individuals with their housing needs and to prevent foreclosures. Housing Action will distribute the funds to the 26 housing counseling agencies...
New Guide to HUD-Approved Client Management Systems Helps Housing Counselor Agencies Make Informed Decisions
Report delivers detailed breakdowns of 17 client management systems, helping housing counselor agencies find the best fit for their needs A new, comprehensive guide to the Client Management Systems (CMSs) approved by HUD has just been released by Housing Action...
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...
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