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
Expanding Homeowner Support through a New HUD Program: Spotlight on H.O.M.E. DuPage
“I always thought that I wanted to help people,” explains Maria Luengas, Executive Director of H.O.M.E. DuPage, when asked how she ended up in the field of housing counseling. But in her prior work, “I wasn't necessarily helping people with their goals. So I looked...
2026 Policy Agenda
For nearly forty years, Housing Action Illinois has led the movement to expand affordable housing and end homelessness across our state. Our year-round collaboration with other advocates, our members and allies, direct service providers, and people with lived...
From Service Year to Staff Member: Catching Up with Housing Action Corps Alumni
Kadasha Hershey served not just one but two year-long terms as a Systems Change AmeriCorps VISTA at Community Opportunity Alliance before joining their staff as a Program Associate. She helps coordinate capacity building programs and membership operations, including...
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...
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...