 | January 2025 Newsletter: Policy Focus | IL CRA in Action | Housing Counselor Dispatch | Housing Action Corps | Members Corner | Learning & Networking | What We're Sharing | Jobs |
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| | Uniting Allies in Call for $100M More to End Homelessness in State Budget In partnership with the Illinois Shelter Alliance, we are urging Governor Pritzker to include a $100 million increase to prevent and end homelessness in his next budget proposal, to be released on February 19. This request is necessary to keep making significant progress on HOME Illinois, the state plan to prevent and end homelessness. We will need significant investments each year, for many years to come, to eliminate the statewide shortage of more than 4,000 shelter beds, nearly 11,000 permanent supportive housing units, and meet other needs. Our request letter has been signed by more than 230 organizations, including homeless service providers and religious congregations. Housing Action’s Policy Director Bob Palmer and our partners have shed light on the need for this funding with recent media placements, including: Illinois Shelter Alliance calls for $100M state funding boost to fight homelessness (Capitol News Illinois and Medill Illinois News Bureau) Housing Action Illinois and Heartland Housed among many asking for state budget increase (Fox Illinois/ABC Newschannel 20) |
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| New Steps in Statewide Effort to Promote Housing Development In mid-December, we were very pleased to see Governor Pritzker release the report of the Ad-Hoc Missing Middle Housing Solutions Advisory Committee and an Executive Order based on the committee's work. Both include several of Housing Action's recommendations to committee staff. We will advocate with the hopefully soon-to-be announced Illinois Director of Housing Solutions for important priorities, such as reducing development costs, incentivizing or requiring local municipalities to address restrictive policies, and eliminating State governmental barriers to housing production. Federal Housing and Homelessness Advocacy & Organizing Priorities for 2025 Earlier this week, we hosted a webinar with partners from the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Latino Policy Forum, and Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County, to discuss the new federal landscape in 2025. We covered federal budget prospects and strategies for improving housing and homelessness policies at a time when we will also need to oppose harmful proposals. Download webinar slides » |
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| | | The Illinois Community Reinvestment Act (IL CRA) is a new state law—one we advocated strongly for—that creates guidelines and requirements to ensure financial institutions invest meaningfully in Illinois communities. As co-leaders of the IL CRA Coalition, Housing Action and Woodstock Institute are planning a series of in-person gatherings to explain the IL CRA. These roundtables will offer a chance to learn more about the new law and provide a valuable opportunity for community organizations and lenders to connect and collaborate. Our second Illinois Community Reinvestment Act Roundtable will be on February 26 in Springfield. Join us » |
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 | Our IL CRA in Action zine explains how the law is a powerful tool for addressing the racial wealth gap and fostering economic opportunities in every community. |
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| | Housing Counselor Dispatch |
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| Going Nationwide with My Path to Home My Path to Home (MPTH) is an online platform launched by Housing Action Illinois to connect individuals and families with essential housing counseling services nationwide. With just a few clicks and by entering basic information, potential clients can connect with HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in their area. By working together, we can make housing counseling more accessible to everyone. Learn more and join us » |
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| IDHA's SmartBuy Program is Now Open SmartBuy helps eligible homebuyers pay off up to $40,000 in student loans plus $5,000 in assistance towards down payment and closing costs while buying a home. Learn more » |
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| | Housing Action Corps Updates |
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| Build Your Capacity: Host with Housing Action Corps There is still time to submit your application to host a Housing Action Corps member in 2025-2026! AmeriCorps VISTA members serve full-time on a year-long project that helps their host organization enhance their services, resources, and partnerships to alleviate poverty and provide more housing opportunities in their community. Host site applications close January 31. Members will serve full-time with organizations in our coalition from August 2025 to August 2026. |
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| Celebrating 15 Years of Strengthening Communities Through Service Since 2010, Housing Action Corps has supported nearly 400 AmeriCorps members and 100+ organizations on countless projects across the state of Illinois. Our network has grown to annually support more than 30 AmeriCorps VISTA members statewide, and now places members in 5 other states through our nationwide Housing Counseling Corps. We look forward to sharing stories and reflecting on the immeasurable impact our AmeriCorps members and host sites have had on their communities in the past 15 years. |
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|  | Gina Sanchez, La Casa de Esperanza; Elliot, a client |
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| | Save the Date Our ninth annual Toast to Housing Justice will be held on April 24, 2025, at Catalyst Ranch in Chicago. Join us for a fun evening of friendly faces and networking—and a chance to win great prizes at our silent auction. Best of all, by attending, you'll support Housing Action's work toward an Illinois where everyone has a good, affordable place to call home. |
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| Learning & Networking Events from us, our members, funders, and organizations to which we belong. Submit your listing »
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Hosted by HOPE Fair Housing Center and The Western Suburbs Giving Circle: Increasing Housing Opportunities in Our Communities, 1/22: Register -
Hosted by CRN: Community Empowerment Workshop Series - Single Family Housing Development, 1/23–1/24: Register -
The Essentials of HUD Data Compliance for Housing Counselors, 1/27–1/31: Register -
Hosted by IHC: Low Income Housing Tax Credit 101, 1/30: Register -
Hosted by Woodstock Institute and Lake Research Partners: Webinar Poll Briefing: Likely Voters in Illinois Don't Miss Payday Lenders, 2/3: Register -
Helping Clients Build a Financial System that Works, 2/4: Register -
Modern Housing Counseling: Mastering AI, 2/12–2/13: Register -
Grant Writing: Essentials for Securing Funding, 2/19–2/20: Register -
Hosted by NLIHC: NLIHC 2025 Annual Housing Policy Forum, 3/24–3/27 (Washington, D.C.): Register See all upcoming Housing Action events » |
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| | | | Thank You to Our Funders We couldn't do what we do without the generous support of our funders. We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to our sponsors and funders for their unwavering support throughout this year's endeavors.
AmeriCorps ● Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen ● Associated Bank ● Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL ● Busey Bank ● The Chicago Community Trust ● Chicago Funder Together to End Homelessness, an incubation ● Cinnaire ● FHLBank Chicago ● Freddie Mac ● Harris Family Foundation ● Huntington Bank Foundation ● JPMorgan Chase ● Midland States Bank ● National Low Income Housing Coalition ● National Housing Resource Center ● Old National Bank ● PNC Foundation ● Polk Bros. Foundation ● Regions Bank ● Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ● Self-Help Federal Credit Union ● U.S. Bank Foundation ● U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development ● Wintrust ● Woods Fund Chicago ● Zillow |
| | We are stronger together. Join us in the fight to create an Illinois where everyone has a good, stable place to call home. |
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| | Housing Action Illinois
67 E. Madison Street, Suite 1603 | Chicago, Illinois 60603
312-939-6074 | communications@housingactionil.org |
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