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.
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.
Previous Legislative Summaries
- 2025 Illinois General Assembly Wrap-Up
- 2024 Illinois General Assembly Wrap-Up
- 2023 Illinois General Assembly Wrap-Up
- 2022 Illinois General Assembly Wrap-Up
- January 2022 Lame Duck Session Wrap-Up
- 2021 Illinois General Assembly Wrap-Up
- January 2021 Lame Duck Session Wrap-Up
- 2020 Illinois General Assembly Wrap-Up
- 2019 Illinois General Assembly Wrap-Up
- 2018 Illinois General Assembly Wrap-Up
- 2017 Illinois General Assembly Wrap-Up
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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Join our action network to stay informed and urge your elected officials to support renters and homeowners.
Learn More
Dig into our publications, which share research and analysis on issues related to affordable housing.
Latest Policy & Organizing News
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...
Just Two Weeks Left
In just two weeks, Illinois will start its second year without a state budget. We're still urging lawmakers to put aside their differences and pass a balanced budget with adequate revenue before then. Meanwhile, it's also vital that Governor Rauner sign Senate Bill...
General Assembly Update: Irresponsibility on State Budget, But Bipartisan Support for Legislation
No State Budget By May 31 Deadline, But Still Time to Pass Responsible Budget by Beginning of Next Fiscal Year Who are the people most hurt by Governor Rauner and the General Assembly not working together to pass a responsible budget for next year by May 31? The ones...