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
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,...
Sign On Now: Center Race in the IL CRA
We have a rare opportunity to shape a critical new oversight system in Illinois. Right now, rules are being made that will determine how strong of a tool the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act (IL CRA) will be for building a fair, inclusive system of lending and...
Making Dreams Possible: Housing Counseling in Spanish & English
Léelo en español: Haciendo posibles los sueños: Consejería de vivienda en español e inglés Spotlight on: Cory Hernandez, Financial Literacy & Home Ownership Counselor with Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission It was her own experience as a first-time...
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...
Response to Governor Pritzker’s Budget Proposal
HOME Illinois is a Historic Investment to End Homelessness State budget proposal provides $350 million in state and federal funding, including $85 million in new state funding to prevent and end homelessness Governor JB Pritzker released his fiscal year 2024 budget...
2023 Policy Agenda
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 priorities for the 2023 Illinois General Assembly session, as well...
Speak Up to Expand Eviction Sealing
Having an eviction filing on your record hampers your ability to find a home, regardless of the outcome of the case. Illinois eviction filings remain in the public record indefinitely, trapping people and families in poverty. Based on pre-pandemic data, more than 50%...
Prevent Homeowner Displacement in Cook County
The inclusion of owner-occupied homes in the Cook County annual tax sale puts people, especially seniors and those with disabilities, at risk of losing their home solely for delinquent property taxes purchased by investors motivated by profit, without regard for the...
2022 IL General Assembly Lame Duck Wrap-Up
Housing Action is excited to celebrate two key wins from the 2022 lame duck Illinois General Assembly session: Increased Funding for the Rental Housing Support Program House Bill 3878 increases the fee on the recordation of real estate documents from $10 to $20 to...
Sign On Now: Urge $51 Million for Emergency Shelters in IL
Help us reach 200 signing organizations! Housing Action and our allies are urging Governor Pritzker to include a $51 million increase for the Emergency and Transitional Housing (ETH) Program in his upcoming budget proposal. The ETH Program has long been underfunded,...
Press Releases
Law Protecting Rent-to-Own Homebuyers in Illinois Goes Into Effect
New State Law Protects People from Predatory Contracts for Deed and Installment Sales Contracts Watch our webinar outlining the new protections. As of January 1, 2018, would-be homeowners are protected from predatory rent-to-own contracts by a new state law that...
Midland States Bank Community Development & CRA Officer David Noble Joins Housing Action Illinois Board of Directors
EFFINGHAM – Midland States Bank (NASDAQ: MSBI) today announced that David Noble, Community Development & CRA Officer, was elected to the Board of Directors for Housing Action Illinois, a statewide coalition formed to protect and expand the availability...
Housing Action Illinois Awarded $820,030 in Housing Counseling Funds: 26 Agencies to Receive Sub-Grants
HUD has awarded $820,030 to Housing Action Illinois to distribute resources to local organizations whose housing programs and services prevent foreclosures and help families rent or buy safe, affordable homes. This year’s network of 26 housing counseling...
Report: Nowhere in Illinois Can Low-Wage Workers Afford Rent; Federal Budget Would Make Situation Worse
President Trump’s proposed federal budget would increase hardship and homelessness for renters, who must earn more than $20 per hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment For Immediate Release: June 8, 2017 For more information contact: Kristin Ginger, Communications...
Legislation to Protect Rent-to-Own Homebuyers Passes Illinois General Assembly
Bill Will Protect People from Predatory Contracts for Deed and Installment Sales Contracts UPDATE: Governor Rauner has signed this bill into law, and it will become effective on January 1, 2018. State legislation to create important consumer protections for people...
New Report Shows Massive Shortage of Affordable and Available Housing for Lowest Income Households in Illinois
CHICAGO – The GAP: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, a new report co-released today by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and Housing Action Illinois, finds a shortage of 324,178 affordable and available rental homes in Illinois for extremely low income...
What the Stopgap Budget Means for Housing and Homeless Services
Illinois' stopgap budget is a respite, but isn't enough. The Illinois General Assembly and Governor have passed a temporary "stopgap" budget for the just completed fiscal year (FY 2016) and the first six months of the just started fiscal year (FY 2017). This is a...
Housing Action Illinois Awarded $698,000 in HUD Housing Counseling Funds: 26 Agencies to Receive Sub-Grants
Housing Action Illinois has been awarded $698,000 by HUD to channel resources to local organizations to help families and individuals with their housing needs and to prevent foreclosures. Housing Action will distribute the funds to the 26 housing counseling agencies...
New Guide to HUD-Approved Client Management Systems Helps Housing Counselor Agencies Make Informed Decisions
Report delivers detailed breakdowns of 17 client management systems, helping housing counselor agencies find the best fit for their needs A new, comprehensive guide to the Client Management Systems (CMSs) approved by HUD has just been released by Housing Action...
Report: Affordable Rents are Out of Reach for Minimum Wage Workers in Illinois; $225 Million in State Funding that Would Help Awaits Governor’s Signature
Renters must earn $19.98 to afford a two-bedroom apartment in IL, while nearly $225 million in emergency state funding for affordable housing is being held up to due to state budget impasse For Immediate Release: May 25, 2016For more information contact: Kristin...