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
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...
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...
New State Law Creates Property Tax Incentive to Create and Preserve Affordable Rental Homes
Overview of Key Provisions As part of the omnibus legislation to create and preserve affordable rental homes across Illinois that was signed into law on July 29, 2021, HB 2621, there are provisions establishing a new property tax incentive, the Affordable Housing...
Educating Homeowners & Renters in Spanish at Erie Neighborhood House
Léelo en español: Educando a dueños de casa e arrendadores en español en Erie Neighborhood HouseMonica Marquez is a housing counselor at Erie Neighborhood House, where she is dedicated to providing services to Spanish-speaking clients. Monica began working at Erie...
Finding the Right Formula for Service
“Home isn't where you're from, it's where you find light when all grows dark.”― Pierce Brown, Golden Son Before serving as an AmeriCorps member with Housing Action Illinois, I served as an AmeriCorps member for a year as a Literacy Tutor in the Las Vegas School...
Urge Governor Pritzker: Increase State Funding to Prevent and End Homelessness
Governor JB Pritzker will introduce his proposed budget for fiscal year 2025 on February 21, 2024. Along with partners at Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Illinois Shelter Alliance, and SHPA, we have developed an organizational sign-on letter to demonstrate...
Changing with the Times: Cora Fulmore’s Approach to Training Counselors
When asked what brought her to the housing counseling industry in the first place, Cora describes losing a friend and realizing she needed to make a change in her own life. She left her job at a financial institution working in collections and started working at a...
Counting All Wins
Housing counseling is “almost like helping someone walk through the American dream—but it’s not all about homeownership,” says Kesha Chatman, the Division Operating Officer at Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. “You are counseling on their finances, you are...
From Furniture Bank to Food Bank: AmeriCorps 9/11 Day of Service
Each year, AmeriCorps members around the nation support September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance by participating in day-long, direct service projects. With 40 full-year AmeriCorps members serving throughout Illinois and in 6 other states, the Housing...
Press Releases
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...
Housing Action Awarded $1.2 Million in Housing Counseling Funds
33 Agencies to Receive Sub-Grants to Help Families Rent or Buy Affordable Homes For Immediate Release: October 8, 2019 Contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 CHICAGO – HUD has awarded...
Policy Brief: Black Illinoisans Eight Times More Likely to Experience Homelessness Than White Illinoisans
For Immediate Release: September 4, 2019 For more information contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 Black and White Disparities in Homelessness, a new policy brief from Housing Action...
Housing Action Illinois Joins National Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign as State Partner
For Immediate Release: July 22, 2019 For more information contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 Housing Action Illinois is excited to become a formal state partner of Opportunity Starts at...
Nowhere in Illinois Can Low-Wage Workers Afford Rent, But New Investments Promise Brighter Future
Renters must earn more than $20 per hour to afford two-bedroom apartment, but fresh investments will begin to alleviate housing costs and address homelessness For Immediate Release: June 18, 2019 For more information contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager,...