Housing Action Illinois

06/03/2026

The 2026 IL legislative session is a wrap, and although certain key proposals are still a work in progress, there's a lot to celebrate: junk rental fees banned, historic property tax reform passed, and homelessness funding protected.

Read the full rundown: https://housingactionil.org/blog/2026/06/02/2026-state-legislative-session-wrap-up

06/02/2026

This legislative session, we successfully advocated for reforms to help protect homeowners from losing the equity they've built in their homes through Illinois' property tax sale system. These changes will help prevent situations where families lose homes worth far more than the tax debt they owe.

Learn more and hear from Housing Action's Bob Palmer in this Chicago Tribune article: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/28/cook-county-tax-buyer-industry-equity-theft-reform-bill/

Thank you to the advocates, impacted homeowners, and legislators who helped make this progress possible.

Under a bill that cleared committee in Springfield, annual tax sales — the government’s way of dealing with delinquent property tax payments — would get a major shake-up.

06/01/2026

Our joint letter in the Chicago Sun-Times pushes back on the idea that homelessness funding should be cut due to "lower demand." The data tells a different story: homelessness in Illinois grew from ~10,000 in 2023 to nearly 15,000 in 2025. Illinois needs more investment in prevention, shelter, and housing, not less.

Read the letter, which we authored along with partners at Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness & Institute for the Public Good (scroll down!): https://chicago.suntimes.com/letters-to-the-editor/2026/05/30/pullman-innovations-southeast-side-motorists-ai-homelessness-bears-street-vendors-cta-memorial-day

06/01/2026

🏡 June is National Homeownership Month—let’s make it count. Does your organization support clients who want to become first-time homebuyers?
Help us spread the word about MyPathToHome.org—a free tool connecting families to HUD-certified counselors for unbiased homebuyer education.
🛠️ Use our outreach toolkit → https://bit.ly/mpth2026

05/31/2026

We share Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle's thoughts on passage of this major property tax reform legislation that will create more equity and fairness, as well as lead to fewer people losing their home due to property tax debt. We very glad to have worked closely with her office on this, as well as with others, including The Chicago Community Trust, Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, AARP Illinois and many others. Maria Pappas' team at Cook County Treasurer's Office deserve a lot of credit, too. Of course, years of work and leadership by State Senator Celina Villanueva and State Rep. Curtis J. Tarver II have been crucial to getting this done.

05/28/2026

The Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program is accepting applications between May 27, 2026 and June 22, 2026. CBRAP provides emergency rental assistance to tenants and housing providers in Illinois with pending cases in eviction court. Applicants may qualify for up to $10,000 that can be applied to past due rent, up to $700 for court costs, and up to two months' future rent to prevent housing displacement. Learn more and apply here: https://www.illinoishousinghelp.org/cbrap

05/26/2026

Housing Action Illinois helps housing counselors and their agencies build their skills and capacity so they can provide the best housing and housing-related services to renters and homeowners. Learn more about the services they can provide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1QGQ_vx6AU

05/22/2026

Thanks to all the members of the Senate who introduced these bills to increase housing supply and affordability, as well as protect people in vulnerable housing situations. State Senator Ram Villivalam, State Senator Mattie Hunter, State Senator Steve Stadelman, State Senator Graciela Guzman, Senator Mike Simmons, Senator Laura Ellman, Sara Feigenholtz, State Senator and Senator Rachel Ventura.

Illinois Senate Democrats present historic housing affordability plan.
http://ilsenatedems.co/9y4r50Z3kwr

05/22/2026

Understanding people’s experiences is key to building better systems.

With two launch discussions this week, IDHS has released a new report highlighting the experiences of Latine individuals facing housing instability across Illinois.

“Latine Homelessness in Illinois: Structural Drivers of Inequality,” a joint effort of the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness and the University of Illinois Chicago’s Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy, examines the systemic factors contributing to housing insecurity and helps identify opportunities for more equitable, prevention-focused solutions.

On any given night in Illinois, approximately 1,000 Latine individuals are in shelters, and an estimated 30,000 are living doubled up, according to the report. This research helps strengthen our understanding of the factors that impact housing access in Latine communities and supports more responsive, community-informed approaches to expanding access to stable housing.

We thank Governor JB Pritzker for championing the fight to end homelessness in Illinois.

At IDHS, we are committed to advancing equity and ensuring all communities have access to the supports they need to thrive.

Read the press release: https://idhs.prezly.com/illinois-releases-new-report-aimed-at-addressing-homelessness-in-the-latine-community

05/22/2026