STATE ADVOCACY UPDATES

Celebrating 5 Years of Illinois Office to Prevent & End Homelessness

Earlier this month, we joined partners in celebrating the five-year anniversary of the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness and the release of the new statewide Home Illinois Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness FY27-29. 

Thank you to the many service providers, people with lived experience, state leaders, elected officials, service providers, and allies who have helped make strides in coordinating and escalating our shared work to prevent and end homelessness.

FEDERAL ADVOCACY UPDATES

Here We Go Again: Harmful Proposal to Overhaul Federal CRA

A new, deeply problematic proposal would overhaul the federal Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and drastically weaken banks’ obligation to meet the credit needs of low- and moderate-income communities. Read a preliminary analysis from our allies at the Community Opportunity Alliance: Billions at Stake for Community Development Organizations and the Communities They Serve. Housing Action and our partners in the IL CRA Coalition will be calling for partners to join us in opposing this proposal; stay tuned.

Court Update on Federal Funding for Homeless Services

We're happy to share news of a legal win: a court vacated the FY26 HUD NOFO for Continuum of Care (CoC) funding, the changes to which could have pushed more than 5,000 Illinoisans back into homelessness. However, the struggle isn't over; HUD is appealing, and the case remains undecided, so uncertainty continues for direct services provider and people experiencing homelessness. 

For over a year, advocates have worked both nationally and locally to defend evidence-based Housing First programs, especially permanent supportive housing. This collective action has been inspiring, but has required countless hours and resources spent on contingency planning and advocacy that would have been better spent on efforts to expand the housing and services that people need to end their homelessness. Thank you to everyone staying engaged as we continue advocating together and enter the next phase of this work. 

WELCOMING TWO NEW HOUSING POLICY ORGANIZERS

Housing Action's Bob Palmer giving remarks at the 5th anniversary celebration of Home Illinois

Housing Action's Sharon Legenza presents on the state Illinois CRA at the Community Opportunity Alliance Summit in Rhode Island

Leanne Gehrig is joining us as Development Manager, following a similar role at Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF). Her career began in architecture and historic preservation before finding her way to community development and fundraising. Leanne holds a graduate certificate in Fundraising Management from North Park University and a Master of Architecture from Judson University. 

Ben Khadim DeMott, our new Communications & Engagement VISTA, just completed a term of VISTA service in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood with Preservation of Affordable Housing. He will be sharing stories of our work and members during his service year. Ben loves Chicago, but he's excited to get to know Illinoisans working for housing justice across the Prairie State.

Members Corner

Lake McHenry Habitat for Humanity

During her service year, AmeriCorps VISTA Alice Nicholson spread the word about Lake-McHenry Habitat for Humanity’s resources and programs. Learn more in our member spotlight »

• Congratulations to Housing Action's Board member Carl Wolf, now Chief Advancements Officer at BEDS Plus; Peter S. Toepfer, now Executive Director of All Chicago: Making Homelessness History; and Rosa Y. Ortiz, now Executive Director of LUCHA.  
• Austin HOPE Center, a partnership between Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, a local church nonprofit, and other city organizations, just opened. The complex will be home to administrative offices for Thresholds.

Alice Nicholson with staff from a local restaurant who supported Lake-McHenry Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build event

Housing Action's 2025 Annual Report: In 2025, Housing Action Illinois and our field remained resilient while facing the threat of severe cuts to federal funding and programs. Read the full report here.