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
2025 Policy Agenda
For nearly forty years, Housing Action Illinois has led the movement to expand affordable housing and end homelessness in Illinois. Our annual policy agenda serves as a roadmap for our advocacy work, which aims to ensure that everyone in Illinois has a safe,...
New Report: Rethinking Housing Code Enforcement to Prioritize Health, Safety, and Equity
A new report by Housing Action Illinois and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Code Enforcement as a Tool for Safe, Equitable & Affordable Housing, explores the impact of local housing code enforcement on health, safety, and stability. Despite the...
Announcing the Cairo Housing Needs Action Plan
Housing Action Illinois, in partnership with local leaders, residents, and government officials, has published a Cairo Housing Needs Action Plan that explores the pressing housing challenges faced by the City of Cairo, Illinois and shares actionable steps to address...
Going National with My Path to Home
Housing Action Illinois is excited to announce the nationwide launch of My Path to Home (MPTH), an innovative online platform that connects individuals and families with housing counseling services. Whether you’re looking to purchase your first home, avoid...
Giving Everyone the Opportunity to Work on Financial Wellness: Spotlight on La Casa de Esperanza
“Everyone deserves an opportunity to work on their financial wellness,” says Gina Sanchez, Director of Center for Financial Stability of La Casa de Esperanza. This belief is the foundation of La Casa De Esperanza’s people-centered approach in their financial education...
Where Are They Now: Housing Action Corps Alumni
After serving as the Financial Literacy Development VISTA at Spanish Coalition for Housing (SCH), Audrey Carberry was excited to accept a full-time staff position at their host site. They are looking forward to building on the relationships and communications skills...
Local Advocacy Opportunity: New List of Communities Must Complete Affordable Housing Plans
The Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act (AHPAA) is an Illinois state law intended to encourage certain local governments to create more affordable housing. Housing Action recently advocated to strengthen this law. In December 2023, for the first time in five...
From Service to Certified: Housing Counseling Corps
Since 2010, Housing Action Corps has placed hundreds of AmeriCorps VISTA members with organizations across Illinois. AmeriCorps VISTA members in our network dedicate a year of full-time service to projects that build organizational capacity, advance housing...
Illinois Housing Wage Reaches $28, Rises Above $30 in Chicago Area
Overall state Housing Wage is $28.81, and many Illinois renters must earn more than $30 per hour to afford rent for a modest two-bedroom apartment For immediate release: June 27, 2024Contact: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action...
2024 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 from the 2024 Illinois General Assembly session, as well...
Press Releases
Housing Action Illinois to Create New Data Standard for Housing Counseling Industry
Initiative will help quantify & qualify program impacts, position agencies to better serve consumers For Immediate Release: August 3, 2020 Contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 CHICAGO...
Housing Action Awarded $1 Million in Housing Counseling Funds
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.
Report: Rent Unaffordable for Illinoisans Even Before Pandemic, Relief Needed to Prevent Evictions
Renters must earn more than $20 per hour to afford rent, federal relief needed to prevent wave of evictions and homelessness FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2020CONTACT: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois,...
Housing Action Illinois Awards $145,000 to Homeless Service Providers Throughout State
As pandemic continues, 14 homeless service providers throughout Illinois receive funds for emergency programs that support people who are homeless or face housing instability FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2020CONTACT: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications &...
Letter to Banking Regulators: Use CRA to Address Racism
Housing Action Illinois joined with a group of 39 allies, including community organizations and state officials, to urge federal banking regulators to use the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) as a tool to address structural racism embedded in the financial system. In...
Mayor Lightfoot, Chicago Advocates Decry Plan to Weaken Anti-Redlining Rules
During Pandemic, Federal Banking Regulator Intends to Gut Community Reinvestment Act FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 22, 2020 CONTACT: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333From...
Housing Action Illinois Awards $340,000 to Homeless Service Providers Throughout State
30 homeless service providers throughout Illinois receive funds to support people who are homeless or unstably housed FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 4, 2020 CONTACT: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois,...
Housing Action Illinois Awarded $340,000 to Distribute to Homeless Service Providers
Funds will be regranted to nonprofits throughout Illinois to support people who are homeless or unstably housed FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2020 CONTACT: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois,...
Housing Advocacy Groups Call On Governor Pritzker to Urge Banks to Prevent Foreclosures Due to COVID-19
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2020 CONTACT: A.M. Triche, NHS Marketing & Communications, atriche@nhschicago.org or 312-619-7771 Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333...
Report: Affordable Housing Scarce in Illinois, Census to Affect Related Programs
Illinois has only 36 available, affordable rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income households; the 2020 census will determine funding for federal programs that alleviate shortage FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 10, 2020 CONTACT: Kristin Ginger, Manager of...