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Recent Updates
New Housing Counselor Training: Housing Counselor Online Made Easy
Home Counselor Online (HCO) is a free client management system (CMS) developed and managed by Fannie Mae that can make required reporting to HUD and other funders easier. But until now, there hasn’t been a comprehensive hands-on training to teach housing...
March 2017: Federal and State Housing Advocacy Update
Federal Level Advocacy Along with advocates from across the country who work to create affordable housing and end homelessness, we are dismayed by President Trump’s budget “blueprint" for next year. Why? The proposal cuts the HUD budget by $6.2 billion (13%). The...
The Power of Storytelling
Back to main blog page » Making my way into the back of a bar off of Damen into a very crowded room, I waited for Story Lab to start. I found out about this storytelling event while researching how to find storytellers for the advocacy program I coordinate called...
Life After VISTA: “My experience as a VISTA continues to serve me well” while working for HUD
Back to main blog page » A passionate fair and affordable housing advocate for years, I became a VISTA for several reasons. My long term goal was to use my past housing programs experience and knowledge of federal grants to gain employment with the Department of...
American Health Care Act: Fewer Covered, Weaker Protections, Higher Costs, Deep Cuts to Medicaid
If the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is repealed and replaced, many of the one million Illinoisans who have insurance thanks to the ACA will lose it, and most everyone else will face higher costs. The American Health Care Act, a bill just introduced by House Republicans,...
Housing is a Human Right: Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing
Housing instability is not merely a symptom of poverty; as illustrated by Matthew Desmond’s 2016 book Evicted, it is a cause. Over 60% of Chicago’s housing stock is rental units, and in 2016 there were upwards of 25,000 evictions filed in the city. The unstable nature...
New Report Shows Massive Shortage of Affordable and Available Housing for Lowest Income Households in Illinois
CHICAGO – The GAP: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, a new report co-released today by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and Housing Action Illinois, finds a shortage of 324,178 affordable and available rental homes in Illinois for extremely low income...
VISTA to VISTA: Nicole and Phillip Talk St. Louis, Strategic Planning, and War and Peace
Back to main blog page » VISTA to VISTA is a recurring feature where our VISTAs interview each other about their perspectives, experiences, and challenges. This February, Nicole Maldonado (Heartland Alliance) asked Phillip Moore (Claretian Associates) about...
Urge Congress to Lift Spending Caps and Provide Highest Level of Funding Possible
Funding for affordable housing, community development, and transportation programs is under attack. We’re asking your organizations to join Housing Action Illinois and advocates from around the country in signing a letter urging Congress to lift harmful spending caps...
Recognition for Going Green in Bloomington
Back to main blog page » In November of 2016, Mid Central Community Action, Inc. (MCCA) was nominated for a McLean County Chamber of Commerce Green Excellence award. When we heard of the nomination, we were all very excited and honored. We have been working very hard...
Press Releases
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What federal housing reforms could mean for Evanston, Evanston Now, 6/29/26
Congress passes housing reform package. How would it impact the Chicago area?, WBEZ, 6/29/26
Despite BUILD’s failure, housing advocates celebrate legislative wins, Capitol News Illinois, 6/12/26
Illinois is one step closer to banning ‘junk fees’ and hidden charges on renters, Chicago Tribune, 6/11/26
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