Capacity Building

We can do more and do it better.
By providing training, consulting, and resources, we help housing organizations better serve communities throughout Illinois. Our experts facilitate workshops, share best practices, and provide one-on-one coaching to nonprofits so they can serve more families and help our communities thrive.
We also advocate for the resources these nonprofits need to most effectively fulfill their missions.
Support for Housing Counseling Agencies
One of our priorities is supporting housing counselors, who support individuals and families in finding and keeping good, affordable homes. Our experts facilitate regular workshops for counselors and offer one-on-one support and direct technical assistance to organizations. We want to make sure that agencies throughout Illinois can keep up with changing trends, new technology, and complicated regulations. By helping housing counselors build their skills and capacity, we position them to better serve their communities.
Housing Action Is a HUD-Approved Intermediary
A key way in which we support housing counseling agencies is as a HUD-Approved Intermediary. As an Intermediary, we distribute HUD Housing Counseling Funds and provide infrastructural and administrative support to a network of regional affiliates. Learn more »
Congrats to our Intermediary affiliates on being 100% certified! Counselors at every agency have passed the recently introduced HUD-certified housing counseling exam.

Community Revitalization Challenge
Through the Community Revitalization Challenge, we help community-based organizations build capacity, working with them to develop robust proposals for projects that increase access to affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents throughout Illinois.
Meet Our Capacity Building Team
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![]() bibian@housingactionil.org 312-939-6074 x. 108 |
![]() jennifer@housingactionil.org 312-939-6074 x. 201 |
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Latest Capacity Building Updates
Housing Action Awarded Nearly $1.6 Million to Distribute to Housing Counseling Agencies & Host National Trainings
Housing Action will distribute subgrants to 35 housing counseling organizations and facilitate national trainings for agencies For Immediate Release: January 31, 2022Contact: Kristin Ginger, Manager of Communications & Development, Housing Action Illinois,...
Housing Action Awarded More Than $1 Million in Housing Stability Counseling Program Funding
CHICAGO – HUD has awarded $1,000,206 to Housing Action Illinois to distribute funds to local nonprofits whose housing counseling programs help families rent or buy safe, affordable homes and prevent foreclosures. This year’s network of 33 housing counseling agencies, listed below, serve communities in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri.
New State Law Creates Property Tax Incentive to Create and Preserve Affordable Rental Homes
Key Points Encourages owners of multifamily rental housing to make improvements and repairs to their property while keeping rents at an affordable level to residents in the community. In higher cost markets, new construction rental buildings with 7+ units will be...