Policy Focus

Protections Against Eviction in Illinois

Governor Pritzker has extended the eviction moratorium in Illinois through October 17. This state moratorium is stronger than the nationwide CDC eviction moratorium that began on September 4 and will be in effect through December 31, 2020.

While these protections are essential for struggling renters, they merely postpone evictions. When they expire, back rent will be due, and renters will be unable to pay. Meanwhile, small landlords who rely on rental income are struggling to pay their bills. Congress must provide at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance to support tenants and landlords and stabilize our communities.

Don't Wait to Vote!

Voting by mail is easy, safe, and convenient. However, a lot more people will be voting by mail this year, which could lead to longer delivery times. It is critical to make sure you're registered and to decide now if you're requesting a mail-in ballot.

Make sure your voice is heard. Request your ballot now »

While filling out your ballot, you will have the chance to vote YES on the Fair Tax referendum. A Fair Tax will reform Illinois’ broken tax system while ensuring that 97% of Illinoisans—those who make $250,000 a year or less—receive a tax cut or pay no more than they do now. It will responsibly fund state budget priorities, such as education, health care and human services. Help us bring tax fairness to Illinois! Tell your family and friends why it's so important and vote YES.

Beginning with Home 

Where we live affects everything in our lives: our health, our access to education, our job opportunities, our ability to save money, how we raise our children, and what kind of future we build for ourselves and our families. At Housing Action Illinois, we want a future in which every Illinoisan, no matter their income, has a good, stable place to call home. Our 2019 Annual Report shares how we worked towards this goal over the last year. Explore the report »

Census: Just One Week Left

This is it: we only have until September 30 to respond to the 2020 Census.

While Illinois' overall participation rate is good—about 70%—many areas are at 50% or lower. These include some of our most marginalized and hard-to-count communities, so we need to do everything we can to get them counted. The form takes less than 10 minutes. Let's ensure that Illinois receives all of the federal funding that it needs.

Fill out the census online or call 1-844-330-2020 and help make sure your community gets funding it needs for the next decade.

Housing Counselor Dispatch

One-on-One HUD Individual Certification Exam Prep

Still need to take the HUD Individual Certification Exam? You're not alone. More than 2,000 housing counselors across the nation need to get certified by August 1, 2021. Our Capacity Building Specialists are here to help you gear up for the test. Stay tuned for Online Study Group dates to be announced. 

Are you looking for a more personalized and intensive way to prepare? We will soon be offering one-on-one tutoring to help you get ready to pass the exam and get certified. Interested? Sign up to find out when slots become available »

New Faces at Housing Action 

Dylan Juza joined us this month as a Housing Action VISTA Leader. She is interested in economic social justice and empowering local communities through evidence based practices. Most recently, she served as a VISTA with the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition, in Austin, TX, where she built the coalition's capacity to implement an employment navigation program to support displaced job seekers. As a VISTA Leader, Dylan hopes to help VISTA members succeed in building capacity for their host sites, as well as focus some of her time on special projects to improve the VISTA Network.