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Recent Updates
Diversifying Revenue through Social Enterprise
A social enterprise is a publicly responsible and innovative venture, driven by unmet community needs, that exists as a hybrid of the traditional nonprofit and business models. Broadly, these ventures can be classified into three categories defined by the Social...
2019 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 2019 Illinois General Assembly session, as well...
8 Reasons We’re Proud of 2018
1. We were awarded $1.26 million by HUD to support housing counseling programs in the Midwest The funds will be distributed across our growing Intermediary network of 33 agencies in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri to support programs that help...
Welcome to Housing Action’s New Board Members
We’re excited to head into 2019 with three new Board members and one renewing member: Shelly Richardson, Carl Wolf, Dottie Johnson, and Kelli Harsch (pictured from left to right above). All of our Board members are motivated by their desire to strengthen their...
Stop a Regulation that Would Devastate Immigrant Families
The "public charge" rule proposed by the Trump administration on October 10 will block immigrant families from having a permanent, secure future in the United States and scare them away from seeking access to health care, nutrition, and housing programs. The proposal...
2018 Midterms Create Housing Policy Opportunities
The 2018 midterm election results have created new opportunities at both the state and federal level for advocates working on homelessness and affordable housing. Candidates and incumbents (whether campaigning or not) have been talking more about housing and have...
Housing Action Illinois Awarded $1.2 Million in Housing Counseling Funds
33 Agencies to Receive Sub-Grants to Help Families Rent or Buy Affordable Homes CHICAGO – HUD has awarded $1,259,176 to Housing Action Illinois to distribute funds to local nonprofits whose housing counseling programs help families rent or buy safe,...
VISTA Spotlight: Joy at the Chicago Jobs Council
After graduating with a Masters in Sociology from Roosevelt University and while awaiting her matriculation into Loyola University’s School of Social Work, Joy Powell hopped onto her computer in May searching for summer opportunities. “I have the summer,...
Farming in the City: A Day of Service in Honor of 9/11
Believe it or not, fall is only a few short days away, and even if we aren’t preparing ourselves for it, nature certainly is. When you have plants growing in the middle of the city, sometimes they can use a little extra help, and that’s where Housing...
Tackling Case Management in Ford Heights
After earning undergraduate degrees in Social Work from Governors State University this spring, Dionna Gordon and Jocelyn James-Moore immediately put their coursework into practice as AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associates at Ford Heights Community Service...
Press Releases
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...
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