 | January 2026 Newsletter: Policy Focus | Housing Counselor Dispatch | Housing Action Corps Updates | Members Corner | Save the Date | Learning & Networking | What We're Sharing | Jobs |
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| | 2026 POLICY AGENDA & ACTION CENTER As housing costs rise and federal programs face new threats, our 2026 Policy Agenda lays out clear priorities to protect housing stability and affordability across Illinois, including: - Defending critical federal housing programs—including Housing First policies, permanent supportive housing, housing counseling, Housing Choice Vouchers, and fair housing enforcement
- Ending homelessness by protecting and investing in Illinois’ state plan and opposing the criminalization of people experiencing homelessness
- Expanding affordable rental housing & protecting renters by preventing evictions tied to local nuisance ordinances, stopping junk fees, and opposing harmful public housing time limits and work requirements
- Promoting sustainable homeownership by preserving affordability, protecting equity, and reforming property tax sales
Join our 2026 Policy Agenda Kickoff webinar (1/28) » |
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| FEDERAL ADVOCACY UPDATES HUD Budget Proposal Rejects Deep Cuts, Signaling Progress On January 20, just days before the current Continuing Resolution keeping the federal government open expires on January 30, a HUD budget bill was introduced by the House majority. The proposal, negotiated with the Senate and reflecting bipartisan input, signals that Congress is generally rejecting the deep cuts proposed by the Trump administration. In the current environment, the proposed HUD budget represents a significant positive achievement, while at the same time many federal resources and policies that keep people housed remain under attack. Overall, the proposed FY26 HUD budget increases funding by $7.3 billion over the previous fiscal year, for a total of $77.3 billion for HUD programs. Highlights include sufficient funding for Housing Choice Vouchers to serve currently participating households and language directing HUD to begin renewing expiring contracts for homeless service provides, an issue subject to ongoing litigation. Other programs, such as Housing Counseling and Fair Housing, are generally flat-funded, while a few programs, such as capital funds for public housing, have proposed cuts. The House and Senate must still vote on the bill by January 30 before it becomes law. Learn more from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Human Services Federal Funding Freeze: IL Impact A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to freeze approximately $10 billion in federal funding to five states, including Illinois. The affected funding supports childcare, TANF, the Social Services Block Grant, and related programs. While the injunction maintains the status quo for now, it is temporary, and future disruptions remain possible. Housing Action has joined Illinois Partners for Human Services in publicly denouncing the freeze. |
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| | Housing Counselor Dispatch |
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| New HUD Intermediary‑Level Data Displays Are Now Live
The HUD Office of Housing Counseling has launched new Housing Counseling Intermediary‑Level Data Displays on the HUD Exchange, offering an expanded, easy‑to‑navigate view of all 9902 data fields for individual agencies. The page now includes the national cityscape infographic for final FY24 Q4 data, along with brand‑new data visualizations for intermediaries. HUD's Office of Housing Counseling's Fifth Annual Community Conference From January 27-January 29, HUD's Office of Housing Counseling will host their Fifth Annual Community Conference virtually. All of HUD's participating housing counseling agencies will have the opportunity to interact with federal and state housing counseling leaders, and many other organizations affiliated with the field of housing counseling. Intermediary Member Spotlight: H.O.M.E. DuPage “I always thought that I wanted to help people,” explains Maria Luengas, Executive Director of H.O.M.E. DuPage, when asked how she ended up in the field of housing counseling. Read about H.O.M.E. DuPage's work, how they used a recent Homeownership Initiative grant, and how they are growing their programming in this member spotlight » |
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| | Housing Action Corps Updates |
| Apply Now to Host with Housing Action Corps
There is still time to apply to host an AmeriCorps VISTA member at your organization in 2026-2027! For 15 years, our Housing Action Corps network has placed AmeriCorps members with community organizations for a year of full-time service, tackling projects that build organizational capacity and advance housing opportunities. Host site applications are accepted through January 31. Housing Action Corps members will serve with their host organizations from September 2026 to September 2027. Contact the National Service Team for more information and support with your application. |
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| Alumni Spotlight: From Service Year to Staff Member Housing Action Corps alumni pursue diverse future paths after their year of AmeriCorps service, often remaining in the housing and public service fields. A third of our 2024-2025 cohort are continuing their professional development at their host sites after accepting full-time staff positions. We caught up with three of these alumni–Kadasha, Paul, and Rae–to learn more about how service led them to their new staff roles. Read more » |
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| - Cunningham Township has approved an agreement for a new emergency winter homeless shelter in Champaign.
- The Chicago Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights has announced that Interim Executive Director Venu Gupta will take on the role of permanent Executive Director on January 28.
- AmeriCorps VISTA Sandra Lee-Reams has been working to expand several programs at Senior Services Plus. Learn about how they serve their communities in this member spotlight.
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 | AmeriCorps VISTA Sandra Lee-Reams at Senior Services Plus' annual open house |
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| | Save the Date: 10th Annual Toast to Housing Justice Our annual benefit will be held on April 30, 2026 at Catalyst Ranch in Chicago's West Loop. Be sure to be there for food, drinks, and exciting silent auction items. Stay tuned for information about registration soon! |
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| | Learning & Networking Events from us, our members, funders, and organizations to which we belong. Submit your listing » - Hosted by The Illinois Homelessness Education and Technical Assistance Center and OPEH: Low Barrier Shelter Training Series, 2/6: Register
- Cybersecurity and AI: How to Safeguard Client Data, 2/19: Register
- Hosted by NeighborWorks: NeighborWorks Training Institute, 2/23-2/27: Register
- Hosted by Illinois Housing Council: Illinois Affordable Housing Forum, 2/26-2/27: Register
- Hosted by NLIHC: 2026 NLIHC Housing Policy Forum, 3/10-3/14: Register
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| | | | We are stronger together. Join our movement 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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