Housing Action Illinois

10/21/2026

New data from Pew Research Center: About 1 in 5 Americans say they had problems paying their rent or mortgage in the past year.

10/20/2026

“The research is fairly consistent that Housing First leads to the best outcomes,” Housing Action's Bob Palmer tells Shelterforce. “But Housing First has never been implemented at the scale that’s needed.”

Shout out to our partners Katie Eighan of Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County and Josh Sabo of Heartland Continuum of Care, who also share perspectives in this article.

Housing First has been part of homelessness policy for decades. Experts say the Trump administration's alternative doesn't measure up.

10/14/2026

Recently, Housing Action’s Sharon Legenza joined a panel discussion hosted by Crain's Chicago Business for a Crain’s Elevate event focused on how housing access and affordability shape workforce participation, financial stability, and long-term growth. Sharon joined Impact for Equity's Daniel Kay Hertz, Woodstock Institute's Horacio Méndez, and Wintrust's Matt Gambs, for a conversation moderated by Crain's Dennis Rodkin.

One of the key takeaways: Chicago can overcome the barriers to creating more affordable housing opportunities; what's missing is the political will. But many players are coming together to change that and work toward a better future with more homes available to all.

10/07/2026

Presentation slides and materials from the 2026 Housing Matters conference are now available as PDFs for download on our website. Find the session you're looking to review here:

10/07/2026

Thank you to the speakers, sponsors, supporters, and attendees who helped make our annual Housing Matters Conference a success! Click the link below to view and download photos from our conference.

September 29-30, 2026 I Hotel and Conference Center | Champaign, IL Dan Reynolds Photography

10/06/2026

Thanks to FHLBank Chicago for having Housing Action's Sharon Legenza and David Young on the Banking on Connections podcast.

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions a person can make, and navigating the process can be complex. Housing counselors can help homebuyers build financial readiness, understand their options, and make informed decisions throughout the homeownership journey.

In the latest episode of Banking on Connections, FHLBank Chicago’s Jamie Lutton, Manager of Community Outreach and Engagement, sits down with Sharon Legenza and David Young of Housing Action Illinois to discuss the impact of housing counseling, the challenges facing counseling organizations, and the value of strong partnerships with financial institutions.

They also explore how FHLBank Chicago’s Community First® Housing Counseling Resource Program strengthens the housing counseling network, helping prepare future homebuyers, expand the pipeline of mortgage-ready borrowers for members, and create connections to resources such as our Downpayment Plus® Program.

Listen to the full episode here or on your favorite podcast platform: https://bit.ly/4rw04ZF

10/01/2026

This week, we joined nine plaintiffs suing the Trump administration. Yesterday, a judge ordered the delay of the expiration of $56 million in funding for HUD's housing counseling program. This win is temporary, and the fight is far from over, but we're relieved; this is a critical first step.

Learn more: https://housingactionil.org/blog/2026/10/01/first-win-court-protects-housing-counseling-funds-for-now

09/28/2026

Housing Action Illinois would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Bronze Sponsors for our Conference, Chase, Midland States Bank, & Zillow. Thank you for supporting our work to expand affordable housing and end homelessness!

09/24/2026

Housing Action Illinois would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Bronze Sponsors for our Conference, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Cinnaire, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, & First Financial Bank. Thank you for supporting our work to expand affordable housing and end homelessness!

09/23/2026

Housing Action Illinois would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Silver Sponsors for our Conference Old National Bank , PNC & Regions Bank. Thank you for supporting our work to expand affordable housing and end homelessness!