 | May 2026 Newsletter: Policy Focus | Staff Updates | Housing Counselor Dispatch | Housing Action Corps Updates | Shifting Media Narratives | Members Corner | Annual Benefit | Learning & Networking | What We're Sharing | Jobs |
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| | STATE ADVOCACY UPDATES The General Assembly is nearing the end of the Spring 2026 session on May 31. Look out for our General Assembly-Wrap Up in early June, covering our policy agenda and key housing issues we are supporting, including Governor Pritzker’s BUILD package to increase housing supply. We also encourage you to read this thoughtful piece from three Illinois mayors supporting BUILD and the need to address our state's “patchwork of outdated zoning rules and overly complex approval processes” to build more homes for more people. We also secured another legislative victory this spring. On April 8, the General Assembly passed HB 3564, which protects renters from unnecessary fees by requiring non-optional fees to be disclosed on the first page of a lease and banning 11 specific junk fees. Find out more » FEDERAL ADVOCACY UPDATES We continue working with national partners, local members, and allies to protect federal housing resources, from homeless services to housing counseling programs. Current priorities include: - Working with the National Alliance to End Homelessness to quicken renewals of Continuum of Care contracts and prepare a response plan for the next funding opportunity expected in June.
- Partnering with the National Housing Resource Center and the Coalition of HUD Housing Counseling Intermediaries to respond to the new housing counseling funding restrictions that would make many counseling services ineligible for reimbursement and limit agencies' ability to help people meet their housing goals. Learn more here.
- Working with the National Low Income Housing Coalition to maximize funding for federal housing programs in the FY27 budget. Organizations can sign a national Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding letter urging Congress to reject cuts to HUD and USDA housing programs.
- Coordinating Illinois sign-on letters opposing HUD policies that would restrict access for mixed immigration status families; impose time limits and work requirements for Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher and Project-Based Section 8 residents; and eliminate the disparate impact standard that helps address housing policies that appear neutral, but have discriminatory impacts.
Housing Action on Capitol Hill This month, Director of Capacity Building David Young joined allies to meet with Congressional staff to discuss FY27 funding for housing counseling and the impact recent federal funding changes will have on both housing counseling agencies and the clients they serve. |
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|  | Thanks to everyone who joined our Lobby Day at the State Capitol this April to advocate on key housing issues! |
|  | Housing Action's David Young, and Marshall Heights CDO's Patrice Roberts and Mary Dade. |
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| | Housing Counselor Dispatch Housing Action Travels to National Black Wall Street HBCU Career Fest Senior Capacity Building Specialist Wanda Collins and AmeriCorps VISTA Member Mikayla Miller traveled to Little Rock, Arkansas to present about Housing Counseling Career Path at the National HBCU Black Wall Street Career Fest. This summer, we're hosting a new variation on our training to help would-be HUD-certified housing counselors gear up to pass the exam: Join us in July for our Career Path Summer Camp » |
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| | Housing Action Corps Updates For 16 years, Housing Action Illinois has proudly run an AmeriCorps VISTA program, helping local organizations build capacity and strengthen communities. We’re now recruiting for our 2026-2027 cohort! Know someone who wants to make a difference and grow as a leader? Encourage them to apply for our Housing Action Corps positions! We’re recruiting for 45 motivated individuals to serve with local organizations across Illinois—and nationwide through our Housing Counseling Corps. AmeriCorps VISTA members commit to a year of full-time service, building organizational capacity, advancing housing opportunities, and strengthening communities. Priority application deadline: July 15. View open positions » |
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| | Shifting Media Narratives We are continuing to build partnerships that strengthen public understanding of housing and homelessness and support more informed media coverage of our issues that focuses on systems and solutions. In April, we co-hosted a roundtable conversation with Press Forward Chicago and Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness exploring the intersection of housing and journalism. Funders, advocates, and media discussed how dedicated support for expert reporting on housing issues can help shift public understanding and pave the way for better housing policies. In May, we helped organize a Home Illinois Summit workshop on media approaches to covering homelessness and housing. The conversation explored how reporters can build trust with people sharing lived experiences and how more thoughtful storytelling can lead to deeper public understanding of housing challenges. |
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| | Left: Press Forward's Tracy Baim, CAFHA's Andre Ruddock, and CCH's April Harris; Center: Tracy Baim, Illinois Answers Project's Sidnee King Pineda, Injustice Watch's Carlos Ballesteros, Freelance Reporter Lizzie Kane; Right: SHPA's Kristal Thomspon, Tracy Baim, Capitol News Illinois' Molly Parker, and Injustice Watch's Maya Dukmasova. |
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| Members Corner - Through their Affordable Housing Program, FHLBank Chicago awarded a $900,000 grant to facilitate the rehabilitation of the Brainerd Senior Center in Washington Heights, Chicago.
- In January, POAH was selected to lead the revitalization of the Chicago Housing Authority's Loomis Courts. This will be their first project with the Chicago Housing Authority.
- PADS of Elgin raised $5,000 through their bed frame initiative, and, combining this with funds from an IDHS grant, was able to purchase 30 twin bed frames to move guests off of mattresses placed on the floor.
- Law Center for Better Housing recently hosted a town hall conversation on the Chicago RLTO at 40 Years, reflecting on the past and future of tenant rights. View the recording »
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| |  | LCBH's town hall about the Chicago RTLO |
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| | Thank you for coming to our benefit! Thank you to everyone who attended our 10th Annual Toast to Housing Justice on April 23, 2026 and helped make it a success! With nearly 120 allies, advocates, and supporters in the room, we celebrated the movement to end homelessness and expand affordable housing. We raised more than $31,000 to move our work forward—which was only possible with your help. Relive the celebration with our 2026 benefit photo album » |
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| | Learning & Networking Events from us, our members, funders, and organizations to which we belong. Submit your listing » - Beyond Certification: Practical Strategies for Counseling Clients – Milwaukee, 6/22-6/24: Register
- Becoming a HECM-Certified Housing Counselor – Milwaukee, 6/22-6/24: Register
- HUD-Aligned Loss Mitigation Fundamentals, 7/16: Register
- Career Path Summer Camp, 7/21-7/23: Register
- Our annual conference will be held on September 29-30. Stay tuned for information about registration!
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| | | | Impact for Equity has released a 2026 Guide for Chicago Housing Advocates. (resource) Applications for FHLBank Chicago's AHP General Fund are open until June 12. The program provides grants and subsidies to construct, purchase, or rehabilitate affordable rental owner-occupied housing. (resource) IHDA will lead a statewide housing planning initiative, the Illinois Housing Blueprint, in the coming year. This program will provide an analysis and recommendations about the state of housing in Illinois. Sign up for listening sessions here.(resource) FHLBank Chicago's Community First Developer Program will be open from June 29-July 31. The program is geared towards organizations providing career and talent development initiatives that support affordable housing developers. (update) Community organizers support Illinois bill restricting penalties for homelessness, The Daily Northwestern, 5/6/26 (media) When the Feds Step Back on Fair Housing, Can States Step Up?, Shelterforce, 5/5/26 (media) Building Housing Stability in Chicago: What We're Learning and Funding, The Chicago Community Trust, 4/15/26 (media) More than 16,000 immigrants in Illinois may lose food assistance in the coming months, Chicago Tribune, 4/11/26 (media) |
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| | | Housing Action Illinois Join our team! Housing Action is currently seeking a Housing Policy Organizer, who will be responsible for key work related to our Public Policy Advocacy and Public Education and Organizing Programs. Apply today » We're also seeking a Communications and Engagement VISTA for 2026-2027 to build public understanding of our issues through educational materials, diversify our revenue, and leverage our 40th anniversary year. Apply today » |
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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 | [email protected] |
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