Latest Updates
Newsletter
Recent Updates
More than 50 Years of Action & Impact in Northwestern Illinois: Tri-County Opportunities Council
At age 70, Mattie Nordstrom was still working full-time, as an in-home caregiver. But when her client suddenly died, Mattie found herself unable to make ends meet. With nowhere else to go, she stayed in three different emergency shelters and camped out in...
Our Housing Counseling Intermediary Network is Growing
Housing Action is thrilled to announce the addition of four new agencies to our Housing Counseling Intermediary network: Latin United Community Housing Association, Open Communities, Total Resource Community Development Corporation, and Community...
Three Bills Signed into Law
We are pleased to share that some key pieces of legislation on Housing Action Illinois' policy agenda have been signed into law. Each of these bills is a step toward protecting renters and homeowners in Illinois. SB 2996 - Protect Children by Updating Illinois’ Lead...
Zeroing in on Food Insecurity and Health Disparities in Chicago Heights
When college students break for the summer, many find a temporary job or internship to build professional experience. For the second year in a row, Paige Pielet chose to spend her summer as an AmeriCorps VISTA. “I was a VISTA last summer and really enjoyed...
Hitting the Ground Running
The newest addition to our team, Jerome Sader, wasn’t just figuring out where the coffee was and organizing pencils on his first day. “Within my first hour of working at Housing Action, I was sitting in a boardroom of housing leaders in the city, including...
Launching a Housing Counseling Program
“Information is power,” says Guadalupe Gasca. As a housing counselor at Centro Romero, the information that Lupe gives families on the northeast side of Chicago helps them find and keep good apartments and homes. “Too many people don’t know their rights,...
Hitting the Road: 2018 Caravan
During the week of July 9, half a dozen Housing Action Illinois staff members and several of our Board members traveled throughout Illinois to listen, talk, and connect with member organizations and communities. We logged 1,700 miles and engaged with 126 individuals...
Welcome to Our New Housing Counseling Intermediary Affiliates
This spring, Housing Action is excited to welcome three new housing counseling agencies to our Housing Counseling Intermediary network: Central Detroit Christian CDC, The Housing Partnership, and Advantage Housing. Housing counselors work with clients at all income...
Report: Nowhere in Illinois Can Low-Wage Workers Afford Rent; Candidates Need to Address This Crisis
Every candidate seeking office should have a plan to address the fact that renters in Illinois must earn more than $20 per hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment For Immediate Release: June 13, 2018 For more information contact:...
2018 Illinois General Assembly Session Wrap-Up
Legislative Victories and Budget Progress Point the Way Forward The General Assembly completed this year’s session on May 31. Housing Action is glad to say that our legislative successes included three bills we advocated for being sent to Governor Rauner for his...
Press Releases
Report: Affordable Rental Housing Still Elusive For Lowest Income Americans
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 25, 2014 CONTACT: Bob Palmer, Policy Director, Housing Action Illinois, 312-282-3959 (cell) or bob@housingactionil.org Report: Affordable Rental Housing Still Elusive For Lowest Income Americans According to Housing Spotlight: The...
Statement by Housing Action Illinois Commending Representative Mike Quigley’s Vote Against Legislation Underfunding Critical Housing Assistance to Low-Income Families
Representative Mike Quigley, from Illinois' 5th Congressional District, who is on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, today voted against the 2015 Transportation-HUD funding bill, although the bill was ultimately approved. This bill will set funding for important...
House FY15 Federal Budget Proposal Contains Deep Cuts for Affordable Housing Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2014 CONTACT: Bob Palmer, Policy Director, Housing Action Illinois, 312-282-3959 (cell) or bob@housingactionil.org On May 7, the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee will likely approve...
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