Celebrating 35 Years of Change

Since 1986, Housing Action Illinois has been working to expand and protect affordable housing and end homelessness in Illinois. We’ve brought people and organizations together, advocated for equitable laws and new resources, created better rules, overcome opposition, and created systemic change. Working with our members and allies, we’ve created better access and housing opportunities in every community throughout Illinois.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us accomplish so much and to our current members, allies, and supporters, who are critical to helping us achieve even more.

We hope you'll join us in celebrating our anniversary »

This month in...
1987: Housing Action Illinois officially incorporates as a nonprofit.

Policy Focus

2022 Policy Agenda

Each year, we work 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. This agenda outlines priorities for the 2022 Illinois General Assembly session, as well as local and federal level work—measures that we believe will help families and communities across Illinois thrive.

Learn more »

Housing Action Welcomes OCC Decision to Rescind Harmful CRA Rule

Housing Action is very glad that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has officially rescinded the harmful Trump administration’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rule issued in 2020. CRA requires banks to meet the community credit needs and provides significant resources to nonprofits serving low- and moderate-income communities. Housing Action and our allies staunchly opposed the 2020 rule, which would have shifted billions of dollars away from communities that already struggle with disinvestment, racism, and economic disruption. Thank you to everyone who spoke up alongside us; stay tuned for opportunities to take action on additional CRA rulemaking in early 2022.

Remind Senators: We Will Build Back Better with $150 Billion for Affordable Housing

We are still waiting for the Build Back Better Act to go to a vote in the Senate. Our Senators, Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin, have been supportive of the bill’s housing provisions, which include $150 billion in funding for affordable housing and tax credits to create affordable homes—but hearing from you will make it easier for them to make the case to protect affordable housing resources as negotiations over the size and scope of the bill continue.

Take action »

Statewide Rental & Mortgage Assistance

The Illinois Rental Payment Program administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is no longer accepting applications, but you can still apply for emergency rental assistance from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) through one of their service providers. Court-based rent assistance is also available for tenants and landlords with cases in eviction court. Learn more here.

Emergency mortgage assistance is not yet available. Illinois has submitted its Homeowner Assistance Fund plan to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Once it is approved, the state will accept applications to assist homeowners impacted by COVID-19, most likely in early Spring 2022. Sign up for program updates »

Housing Counselor Dispatch

Congrats to Kankakee, METEC Resource Center, & Springfield on Healthy Homes Grant

We are excited to share that nearly $5.5 million from HUD's Healthy Homes Program has been awarded to Illinois recipients to protect families through home health and safety standards. Our congratulations to longtime Housing Action Illinois member METEC Resource Center, an Intermediary affiliate based in Peoria, and the City of Kankakee, whose Community Development Agency is our member; both will receive $2 million. The City of Springfield will also receive $1.5 million. In her press release congratulating METEC, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) states, "From lead and mold abatement to radon and carbon monoxide mitigation these resources will go a long way toward protecting children and improving quality of life for local families.”

Thanks to Huntington Bank & National Housing Resource Center

Last week, Housing Action Illinois held our first Housing Counseling Career Path training, a six-session program designed to help would-be housing counselors understand the basics of housing counseling and prepare to pass the HUD Individual Certification Exam. Our thanks to Huntington Bank & National Housing Resource Center, whose sponsorship made this training possible. 42 participants from 21 states registered to join the initial cohort, and Housing Action is excited to welcome this new group of potential housing counselors to the field.

Interested in sponsoring a training? Please contact Bibian Cristino at bibian@housingactionil.org.

Identifying Appraisal Discrimination in Chicago

Many families across the South and West side of Chicago have experienced appraisal discrimination, which contributes to the racial wealth gap and results in a significant devaluation of homes and neighborhoods. Housing Action Illinois is apart of the Appraisal Equity Taskforce, which is committed to protecting homeowners and their home value.

Do you know anyone who has received an inaccurate or unfair value on their home after an appraisal or suffered outright discrimination? Find out if they are interested in taking this task force survey.

AmeriCorps Updates

Apply to Host an AmeriCorps Member

AmeriCorps members can help your organization build the capacity to advance its mission in new ways, implement pilot projects and new programs, and grow existing services and programs.

Each year, Housing Action matches up to 30 full-year AmeriCorps members and 30+ Summer Associates with host sites across the state. The deadline to apply to host an AmeriCorps member is January 28, 2022.

Please email vista@housingactionil.org to request an application.

Thank You to Our Funders

The generous support of our funders makes our work possible. Housing Action Illinois extends our sincerest thanks to all of the sponsors and funders listed below, and to those who wish to remain anonymous, for supporting our work during 2021.

Ameren Illinois • Anonymous Family Foundation • Associated Bank • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois • The Chicago Community Trust • Citizens Bank • Cinnaire • Corporation for National & Community Service • Cuore e Mani Foundation • Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago • Fifth Third Chicagoland Foundation • First Midwest Bank • Freddie Mac • Harris Family Foundation • Housing Stability Counseling Program • Huntington Bank Foundation • JPMorgan Chase • The Lawrence and Nancy Wojcik Fund of the Vanguard Charitable Fund • Midland States Bank • National Housing Resource Center • National Low Income Housing Coalition • Neighborhood Stabilization Corp. • Peoples Gas Community Fund • Pierce Family Foundation • PNC • Polk Bros. Foundation • Providence Bank & Trust • Regions Bank • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Policies for Action program • Schwab Charitable Fund • Second Federal / Self-Help Federal Credit Union • U.S. Bank Foundation • U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development • Wintrust • Woods Fund Chicago

Learning & Networking

Events from Housing Action, our members, funders, and organizations to which we belong. Submit your listing »

Hosted by Chicago Rehab Network
Community Empowerment Workshop Series 2021-2022: Register

Hosted by Supportive Housing Providers Association
Grant Accountability & Transparency Act Training, 2/3: Register

Member Benefits Orientation, 2/23/22: Register

See all Housing Action events »

What We're Sharing

Rural homelessness is increasing, advocate says it can be hard to see, The Center Square, 1/7/21 (news)

Down Payment Assistance Program Search Tool Now Displayed on All Eligible For Sale Listings on Zillow, Zillow, 12/15/21 (news)

The Institute for Housing Studies (IHS) has published a report, Housing Needs and Economic Conditions of Cook County's Older Adults, that discusses the critical housing issues facing Cook County's older adults. (report)

Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) is awarding grants to fund programs in Illinois communities that have been harmed by violence, excessive incarceration, and economic disinvestment. Apply by 3/1/22. (funding opportunity)

Bank of America Charitable Foundation is funding Chicago-based organization proposals focused on supporting development of affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and small businesses. Apply between 5/30/22 – 6/24/22. (funding opportunity)

Who's Hiring

Jobs from Housing Action, our members, funders, and organizations to which we belong. Submit your opening »

Housing Action Illinois is collaborating with the National Housing Resource Center (NHRC) to expand the field of housing counseling, and NHRC has launched a jobs board to match HUD-certified housing counselors and agencies with open positions. Find or post a housing counseling position at HousingCounselingCareer.org »

Access Living, Colbert and Williams Program Housing Locator & Community Development Organizer

C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Council, Housing Counselor

Center for Disability and Elder Law, Program Coordinator

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Digital Communications Manager

Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, Voting Rights Program Coun sel

Chicago Urban League, Community Outreach Worker

Chinese American Service League, Housing Counselor

Cinnaire, Loan Servicing Specialist

Full Circle Communities, Project Manager

Habitat For Humanity Chicago, Real Estate & Build Manager, Community Partnerships Manager & Senior Crew Leader

HANA Center, Various Positions

LUCHA, Director of Development