 | November 2024 Newsletter: Election Response | Conference | Policy Focus | IL CRA | Housing Counselor Dispatch | Housing Action Corps | Members Corner | Learning & Networking | What We're Sharing | Jobs | In Memoriam |
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| | Housing Action Illinois will always be steadfast in our mission to protect and expand affordable housing and end homelessness in Illinois. The results of the federal election are reshaping our political landscape, and we know that challenges and uncertainty lie ahead—but whatever comes next, we will continue the foundational work we’ve always done to expand access to housing opportunities for all. Our organization is more than 35 years old, and we have decades of experience in advocating for the housing policies and investments that help our communities thrive. The need for affordable housing is a bipartisan issue, and for the first time in far too long, housing was in the limelight during the presidential campaign. We will work to keep our elected officials focused on this issue and will continue to educate decision makers about the root causes of housing issues, countering myths and fighting misinformation that unfairly target people and communities for systemic injustices in our society. Housing Action Illinois is unique in that our coalition is statewide, and we work across the entire housing ecosystem, bringing together a wide range of private, public and non-profit organizations to advance sustainable local, state and federal solutions. Connection and collaboration propel us forward. In the coming years, we will continue to partner with you and other allies here and across the nation to take a stand for strong, equitable policies and investments in affordable housing and to organize against ones that harm Illinoisans and our communities. Thank you for your ongoing support. |
| | 2024 Housing Matters Conference |
| This year, we were excited to welcome 335 participants from 194 different organizations to our annual conference. Attendees joined us in Bloomington, IL, for two days to dig into issue updates, hear from experts, and build relationships. We kicked off with opening keynote speaker David Berenbaum, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing Counseling at HUD, and ended with a conversation on local strategies to increase housing supply with the elected officials from Bloomington, Decatur, and Evanston. In between, we facilitated 18 breakout workshops, including a community tour of affordable housing sites, and held a reception with live jazz. Thank you to speakers, sponsors, and attendees who helped make the conference a success! View select presentation materials and browse photos » |
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| Education & Outreach Updates Housing Action Illinois coordinates monthly conversations among the 19 Illinois Continuums of Care (CoCs), the local planning bodies that coordinate housing and services funding for families and individuals experiencing homelessness. We help service providers share latest updates, discuss best practices, and collaborate. Recently, our staff presented at the annual meeting of the Will County Continuum of Care and the Kankakee Homeless Summit, and we look forward to presenting soon at legislative breakfasts in west suburban and north suburban Cook County. We also will be presenting during a November 20 National Alliance to End Homelessness webinar on how to effectively communicate with your federal elected officials in the post-election environment. We are regularly asked to present to and help educate community-based organizations, elected officials, and others about issues impacting affordable housing, homelessness and related issues. If you are interested in having us join you for a meeting or event, please contact Foluke Akanni. |
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 | Meredith Montgomery, Executive Director of Will County CoC, at November meeting |
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| | IL CRA In Action 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. We created a zine that explains how the law is a powerful tool for addressing the racial wealth gap and fostering economic opportunities so that every community can thrive. Download IL CRA in Action » 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 first Illinois Community Reinvestment Act Roundtable will be on December 6 in Fairview Heights (near East St. Louis). Join us » |
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| | Housing Counselor Dispatch |
| Thinking About Taking the HUD Housing Counseling Exam? Join us to prepare! "I strongly recommend the Housing Counseling Career Path training for those that want to become HUD certified housing counselors," says Francisco Gonzalez, a counselor with Erie Neighborhood House, who took our training over the summer and is now officially HUD-certified. "This course will provide you with an overall knowledge and understanding of what will be covered on the HUD exam, what to study and where to find the study materials. The knowledge and experience of the presenters will give you the confidence and motivation you need to study hard and pass the exam on your first try!" Register for our next Housing Counseling Career Path, coming up in January » |
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| Director of Capacity Building Appointed to HUD Advisory Committee We're proud to share that Housing Action's Director of Capacity Building, David Young, is one of 11 new appointees to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Housing Counseling Federal Advisory Committee! The Committee serves a critical advisory role to HUD by helping shape the direction of its Housing Counseling Program and providing guidance on how to better serve prospective buyers, homeowners, and renters with their housing needs. |
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| | Housing Action Corps Updates |
| Host with Housing Action Corps in 2025 We are now accepting Early Bird Interest from organizations motivated to host AmeriCorps VISTA members in our Housing Action Corps network in 2025-2026. Host site applications will open from December 2 to January 31. Housing Action Corps members will serve with their host organizations from August 2025 to August 2026. Curious about our AmeriCorps network and the application process? Join one of our upcoming webinars: |
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| - How to Host Housing Counseling Corps Members (organizations in any state) | December 5 | Register »
- How to Host Housing Action Corps Members (Illinois-based organizations) | December 6 | Register »
- Writing Strong Host Site Applications | January 9 | Register »
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| Connecting in Person This past October, Housing Action Corps members joined together in Chicago and Bloomington for an In-Service Training and Housing Action’s annual conference. Members spent four days attending professional development trainings, networking, and learning about the housing field |
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| Where Are They Now: Housing Action Corps Alumni After serving with their host organizations for a year, Housing Action Corps members pursue diverse future paths, often remaining in the housing and public service fields. We caught up with three recent alumni—Audrey, Katie, and Vanessa—to learn how their service with Housing Action Corps shaped their next steps. Read more » |
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| | Member Shout Outs Highlighting some of the good work our members are doing. Submit your good news » - Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH) recently broke ground on a new affordable housing project, where their future office will also be located. Read the Chicago Tribune coverage of the project.
- Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) received the Illinois Green Alliance Organizational Emerald Award for their work building and renovating over three-thousand mixed-income housing units in the Chicago area.
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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 » -
Hosted by All Chicago and Partners: WTTW Firsthand Homeless: Understanding the Housing Crisis, 11/19: More information -
Hosted by the Illinois Office to Prevent & End Homelessness: Home Illinois FY25-26 Webinar, 11/19: Register -
Secure Spaces: Navigating Safety Risks in Housing Counseling, 11/19–11/21: Register » -
Helping Clients with Debt (Spanish), 12/4: Register » -
Illinois Community Reinvestment Act Roundtable, 12/5: Register » -
How to Host Housing Counseling Corps Members, 12/5: Register » -
How to Host Housing Action Corps Members, 12/6: Register » -
Financing Options for Manufactured Housing, 12/10–12/11: Register » See all upcoming Housing Action events » |
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| | - All Chicago, Senior Program Manager
- Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County, Workforce Program Manager
- Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness, Senior Housing Attorney
- Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, Vice President of Finance and Operations and a Senior Counsel
- Cinnaire, Loan Servicing Specialist
- Habitat for Humanity Chicago, Multiple Positions
- Illinois Housing Council, Policy Associate
- Law Center for Better Housing, Housing Attorney
- Metropolitan Planning Counsel, Housing, Community and Economic Development Director
- National Low Income Housing Coalition, Multiple Positions
- North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, Staff Attorney (Housing Law Practice)
- South Suburban Housing Center, Fair Housing Specialist (Position Details, Application) & Director of Fair Housing Enforcement (Position Details, Application)
- YWCA Quincy, Grants Manager
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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 |
| | In Memoriam Our thoughts and condolences to the colleagues and families of those who worked in our field who have passed away, including HUD-certified housing counselor Susan Cascio, who worked at Respond Now. |
| 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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