Policy Advocacy

Many voices are stronger than one.

We mobilize our members and allies to advocate for policies that help end homelessness, create affordable rental housing, promote sustainable homeownership, and affirmatively further fair housing. We work to increase federal, state, and local investments in proven housing programs, as well as to develop new and innovative policy solutions. On our own and through coalition work, we have been able to secure a multitude of policy victories in Springfield and Washington, D.C., that benefit renters and homeowners.

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Action Center

With your help, we can expand access to affordable housing, prevent and end homelessness, and create an Illinois where everyone has good, stable homes. 

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2026 Policy Agenda

Our annual policy agenda serves as a roadmap for our state & federal advocacy to ensure every Illinoisan has a stable place to call home.

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Our Priority Issues

Housing Action Illinois works to advocate and mobilize around a broad range of issues aligned with our core mission of creating an Illinois where everyone has a good, affordable place to call home. Some of our primary issues are explored at the links below.

Louder Together: Multi-Sector Partnerships

To truly change our affordable housing ecosystem for the better, we need to bring together not just housing advocates but also people, organizations, and interest groups from beyond the housing field. This is why Housing Action Illinois has joined the national Opportunity Starts at Home campaign, a project of our allies at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, and why we are working with advocates in pediatric health care, refugee resettlement, and the disability rights sector to raise up affordable housing as an issue that matters to all of us.

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Speak Up

Join our action network to stay informed and urge your elected officials to support renters and homeowners.

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Dig into our publications, which share research and analysis on issues related to affordable housing.

Latest Policy & Organizing News

2020 Silver Linings

2020 Silver Linings

Silver Linings in 20202020 has been a difficult year—marked by the COVID-19 public health crisis, related economic downturn, and widespread social unrest in response to systemic racism. A heartbreaking number of people are facing housing insecurity at a time when it...

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RTLO Week of Action

RTLO Week of Action

We need your help to pass protections for 245,000+ renter households in Cook County living in communities without a comprehensive tenant-landlord ordinance. For thirty years, renters living in Chicago, Evanston, and Mount Prospect have benefited from municipal...

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Tell Your Legislators to Act During Veto Session

During the Illinois veto session, our legislators will have the chance to pass protections for renters on the brink of losing their homes. The pandemic has only exacerbated our longstanding eviction crisis, as COVID-19 has caused unprecedented economic instability for...

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