News
In the media
Wage gap puts housing out of reach for many Illinois residents: Kendall County Chronicle, 6/10/16
Affordable housing out of reach for many in Illinois: Chicago Citizen, 6/7/16
Illinois Renters Must Earn Nearly $20 An Hour To Afford A Modest Two-Bedroom Apartment, Report Finds: Progress Illinois, 5/25/16
New Report by Chicago Urban League Highlights Housing Segregation: Chicago Examiner, 4/21/16
Judge Orders Compensation For Elderly Black Victims Of Reverse Mortgage Scam: Chicago Reporter, 01/28/16
ISU Grad Student Helps Others Find Affordable Housing: ISU News, 01/25/16
Latest News
Building Community Across Counties at Senior Services Plus
AmeriCorps VISTA Sandra Lee-Reams at Senior Services Plus’ annual open house
New Data Standards Open Doors for Housing Counselors & Clients
Most people have never heard of the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO) or thought much about data sets—but for the past eight years, David Young, Director of Capacity Building at Housing Action, has been working to show why both matter for...
Housing Advocates Urge HUD to Avoid Forcing Thousands of Illinoisans into Homelessness
In a letter to Secretary Scott Turner, advocates outline importance of maintaining funding for housing programsFor Immediate Release: November 14, 2025Contact: Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois...
Member Spotlight: Chicago Furniture Bank
Chicago Furniture Bank (CFB) centers itself in a simple yet powerful belief: that furniture is more than just objects—it’s stability, and a crucial building block of a home. Since 2018, the organization has worked to provide gently used furniture to individuals and...
New Report on Illinois’ Housing Voucher Crisis: Not Even a Place in Line
A new report by Housing Action Illinois, Not Even a Place in Line: Shortage of Housing Choice Vouchers and Closed Waitlists in Illinois, details the strained capacity of the Housing Choice Voucher program in Illinois. The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program is the...
Member Spotlight: Community Partners for Affordable Housing
At the heart of all programming provided by Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH) is their commitment to providing safe, secure housing to individuals and families in Lake and Northern Cook Counties. Through a combination of new construction and...
Federal Policy Update: Senate HUD Budget, EO on Homelessness, & More
Better Than the Alternatives, Still Not Good Enough: What's in the Senate HUD Budget On July 24, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its FY2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) budget proposal—offering a much better alternative to...
Affordable Housing is Out of Reach for Low-Wage Illinois Workers
Rent continues to be much higher than what many can afford; families face elimination of rent assistance under proposed federal cutsFor Immediate Release: July 17, 2025Contact: Kristin Ginger, Director of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois,...
Policy Update: Deep Proposed Cuts Threaten Housing Programs
In the aftermath of the reconciliation bill, which was signed into law on July 4—and which includes deep, harmful cuts to health care, food assistance, and more to pay for tax cuts for the most affluent in our society—Congress has turned its attention to creating next...
2025 State Legislative Session Wrap-Up
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 successes and challenges from the 2025 Illinois General Assembly...
Press Releases
Housing Action Illinois Executive Director Wins National Community Development Award
National Community Development Leadership Award Presented to Housing Action Illinois Leader Sharon LegenzaFor Immediate Release: October 26, 2023Contact: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org...
Affordable Rental Housing Is Out of Reach In Illinois
Illinois renters must earn more than $24 per hour to afford rent for a modest two-bedroom apartmentFor Immediate Release: June 14, 2023Contact: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or...
Extreme Shortage of Rental Homes Results in Severe Burdens for Lowest Income Families with Children
Report finds only 34 affordable, available rental homes per 100 extremely low-income renter households in IllinoisFor Immediate Release: March 16, 2023Contact: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois,...
Proposed Law Will Seal Certain Eviction Records to Help People Find a Home
For Immediate Release: February 22, 2023Contact: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 CHICAGO, IL – CHICAGO, IL – A new state legislative proposal will expand opportunities...
Housing Action Awarded Nearly $1.4 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: August 31, 2022Contact: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois,...
Affordable Housing Is Out of Reach In Illinois for Low-Wage Workers
Illinois renters must earn nearly $23 per hour to afford rent for a modest two-bedroom apartment For Immediate Release: July 28, 2022Contact: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or...
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.
Affordable Housing Is Out of Reach for the Lowest Income Renters In Illinois
Illinois renters must earn more than $20 per hour to afford rent, and while pandemic relief funding will help, federal infrastructure investment is critical Chicago — In order to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment in Illinois, renters working full-time need to...