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Newsletter
Recent Updates
New Data Reaffirms Long Standing Shortage of Affordable Homes For Extremely Low-Income Renters In Illinois And Chicago
For immediate release: March 14, 2024Contact: Bob Palmer, Policy Director, Housing Action Illinois at 312-282-3959 or bob@housingactionil.org CHICAGO, IL – A new report by Housing Action Illinois and the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), The Gap: A...
A Moment in Our Movement
In February, four generations of Housing Action AmeriCorps Network alumni attended the Illinois Affordable Housing Forum, a statewide affordable housing conference hosted by Illinois Housing Council. The Forum brings together housing industry leaders from across...
2024 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 2024 Illinois General Assembly session, as well...
Community Safety Through Stable Homes Act Coalition Introduces Legislation with Senator Villa and Representative Ford to End Discriminatory Housing Practices
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 12, 2024 CONTACT: Zindy MarquezDirector of Communications312.202.3657 (office)zmarquez@clccrul.org SPRINGFIELD, IL – On Friday, February 9th, the Community Safety Through Stable Homes Act Coalition joined Senator Karina Villa (25th...
New Partnerships Pave the Way for Future Homeowners in Decatur
In Decatur, a new initiative is shaping a positive change for community investment and homeownership access. Community Investment Corporation of Decatur (CICD), a nonprofit focused on small business development and lending, as well as housing counseling, has been...
Changes to Illinois’ Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferrals Increase Affordability of Program
Applications are due March 1, 2024 for this property tax deferral program. Starting with property taxes due in tax year year 2023, which are due in 2024, a change in state law has permanently lowered the interest rate for eligible seniors who defer some or all of the...
Service is a Journey, Not a Destination
Ten years ago, I started my journey of service. I first joined AmeriCorps VISTA in 2014 as a Summer Associate in Prescott, AZ. I went on to serve two consecutive, year-long AmeriCorps VISTA terms, the first of which focused on creating a culinary and gardening program...
Protecting the Freedom to Choose Where You Live
Fair housing laws to prevent discrimination “have existed for 55 years, but when we look at the current trends, we don’t see the instances of discrimination going down. That’s because how discrimination manifests continues to evolve; we win one fight and then a new...
Enough for All
As we work to end homelessness for both Illinoisans already experiencing homelessness and new arrivals, we must stay united and focus on housing as a basic human need for all.A Shifting Landscape Since August 31, 2022, more than 30,000 people who are asylum seekers,...
A New Start as a Housing Counselor
Verdene Sims has always had a desire to help people, so after retiring from a career in telecommunications, she decided to start doing something entirely different and wanted to commit herself to doing something that would support others. She says, “I wasn’t sure...
Press Releases
Housing Action Awarded Nearly $1.6 Million to Distribute to Housing Counseling Agencies & Host National Trainings
Housing Action will distribute subgrants to 35 housing counseling organizations and facilitate national trainings for agencies For Immediate Release: January 31, 2022Contact: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois,...
Report: Cook County Tax Sale Evictions Disproportionately Occur in Majority-Black Communities
Analysis shows most tax sale evictions occur on south, west sides of Chicago and suburban Cook County. For Immediate Release: November 15, 2021Contact: Bob Palmer, Policy Director, Housing Action Illinois, bob@housingactionil.org or 312-939-6075 COOK COUNTY - A new...
Housing Action Awarded More Than $1 Million in Housing Stability Counseling Program Funding
CHICAGO – HUD has awarded $1,000,206 to Housing Action Illinois to distribute funds to local nonprofits whose housing counseling programs help families rent or buy safe, affordable homes and prevent foreclosures. This year’s network of 33 housing counseling agencies, listed below, serve communities in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri.
Media Placements
Here’s what Illinois workers need to make an hour to afford rent, report says, Belleville News-Democrat, 8/18/26
Why Illinois ranks last in country for building housing, Fox 32, 8/7/26
Illinois ranks second to last in U.S. on building new housing, Crain’s Chicago Business, 8/4/26
Housing Wage in Illinois Now More than $30, NewsBreak, 7/24/26
What the ROAD to Housing Act means for Chicago, Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ, 7/15/26
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












