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
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...
Launching Our First On-Demand Housing Counselor Training
Recognizing the need for housing counselors to have flexible and dynamic learning opportunities, Housing Action Illinois has collaborated with trainer Kim Drayton to introduce our first on-demand housing counselor training, Compliance Matters: The 2024 Definitive HUD...
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...
Press Releases
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,...
Build UP Illinois Applauds Governor Pritzker’s Proposal to Invest in Affordable Housing in Capital Budget
Proposal is a good foundation, but more is needed For Immediate Release: May 21, 2019For more information contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or 312-854-3333 SPRINGFIELD, IL – Community leaders and...
Just Housing Amendment passes, protecting over 1 million people in Cook County from housing discrimination
Amendment will ban housing discrimination against people with records and come into effect this November For Immediate Release: April 26, 2019 For more information contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications Manager, Housing Action Illinois, kristin@housingactionil.org or...
Advocates Call for Fair Housing Protections for People With Arrest & Conviction Records
Just Housing Initiative amendment will ban housing discrimination based on records, supporting over 1 million Cook County adults while reducing recidivism and strengthening families For Immediate Release: April 16, 2019 For more information contact: Kristin Ginger,...
Report: Housing Demand Has Outpaced Supply, Especially for Low-Income Illinois Families
A new report shows that Illinois has only 35 available, affordable rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income households.
CMS Guide 2.0 Released to Help Housing Counseling Agencies Replace HCO
Housing Action Illinois has just published an updated version of its Guide to HUD-approved Client Management Systems (CMSs). The digital resource, which is available for free online, helps users assess their options through an at-a-glance comparison chart and detailed...
Housing Action Illinois Awarded $1.2 Million in Housing Counseling Funds
33 Agencies to Receive Sub-Grants to Help Families Rent or Buy Affordable Homes CHICAGO – HUD has awarded $1,259,176 to Housing Action Illinois to distribute funds to local nonprofits whose housing counseling programs help families rent or buy safe,...