Illinois Housing Assistance

Illinois Housing Vouchers * Public Housing * Homeless * Making Home Affordable

Illinois housing assistance includes numerous federally and state-funded programs specifically designed to help its residents with various housing needs.

Rental Help for Illinois Residents

Illinois Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers

Section 8 Housing Program is a federally funded rental assistance set of subprograms for low-income families, disabled persons, and the elderly available to all States.

Section 8 Housing Program for the State of Illinois is is a federally funded program that is offered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Illinois Section 8 rental assistance helps eligible low-income families by subsidizing their rental housing of choice through the Housing Choice Vouchers. The Housing Choice Vouchers help low-income families and individuals broaden their housing options in the private rental market. Find more about Section 8 Housing Programs and Housing Choice Vouchers.

According to Illinois DCFS, the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV) is a housing subsidy that eligible persons receive to reduce their share of the cost of the rent. It is important to report your income accurately in your application order to avoid losing your voucher and place in the waiting list for subsidized housing.

Illinois Housing Choice Voucher Program is funded entirely by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, and according to CBPP, the Section 8 programs currently assist over 225,000 Illinois families. The Program’s vouchers increase affordable housing choices for very low-income Illinois households by allowing families to choose privately owned rental housing.

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers are issued by a local Illinois Public Housing Agencies to an income-qualified household, which then finds a unit to rent. If the unit meets the Section 8 quality standards, the Housing Authority then pays the landlord the amount equal to the difference between 30 percent of the tenant’s adjusted income (or 10 percent of the gross income or the portion of welfare assistance designated for housing) and the Public Housing Agency-determined payment standard for the area. In other words, the Section 8 Program operates by providing direct subsidy rent payments to qualified landlords for tenants participating in the program. The rent must be reasonable compared with similar unassisted units.

Housing Voucher Program is also called Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA). Contact one of the regional offices for information on Section 8 rental assistance. These offices administer the Housing Choice Voucher Program which is a tenant-based assistance program.

Normally, the demand for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Illinois exceeds the available funds and there are long waiting lists. As a result, the applications for the Section 8 Vouchers are taken periodically at a time determined by each local Public Housing Authority. The open period for taking Section 8 applications is usually advertised in the local newspaper 2 weeks prior to starting acceptance of applications, and all related social service agencies are notified. 

When the waiting list is open, completed applications are accepted from all applicants. The Housing Authority will then verify the information in each application relevant to the applicant’s eligibility, admission, and benefits level.

Section 8 Program allows families to pay a predetermined share of their income toward the rent while issued Housing Choice Vouchers make up the difference. The program does not pay for security deposits and moving expenses. The tenant is responsible for paying for any utilities not included in the rent according to the lease.

Income eligibility limits and benefit levels are based on local median income and local housing costs but are set largely at the federal level with limited local discretion. Income requirements are set generally as less than 50% of Area Median Income (AMI), but can be up to 80% in some cases. By law, seventy-five percent of the newly issued vouchers must go to families with incomes below 30% of the Area Median Income.

Current recipients maintain vouchers until their income reaches a level at which the value of their housing subsidy is reduced to $0.00 – all housing subsidies are calculated based on family income, housing costs, and other factors.

Project-Based Rental Assistance

The Illinois State and HUD promote affordable housing opportunities through Project-Based Rental Assistance.  The Project-Based rental assistance pays part of the rent to qualified tenants for a specific building designated as Section 8 and subsidized by the Federal Government with the main purpose to provide affordable housing for low-income families. Project-Based vouchers are used at selected developments where providers of supportive services focus on special needs populations. Applications are accepted and waiting lists are maintained at each housing site. The populations served are households that are extremely-low income with income up to 50% of the Area Median Income. HUD establishes and publishes the income parameters annually.

Illinois Public Housing

Subsidized and Low-Rent Apartments

Public Housing provides safe, decent and affordable rental housing to eligible Illinois residents – low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides federal grants to States’ local Public Housing Agencies (PHA) which manage the public housing developments for low-income residents at rents they can afford.

In general, housing developments owned, managed and maintained by the local PHA are referred to as Conventional Housing, or Low Rent Public Housing and units are offered to eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities at rental rates established by the PHA authorities within the HUD income limits and guidelines.

Under the Conventional Public Housing program, an Illinois Housing Authority rents units that it owns to low-income individuals, who pay 30% of their adjusted gross income towards rent. The Authority administers the Low Rent Public Housing Program in accordance with HUD rules and regulations. Usually, the public housing properties are operated by the Housing Authority with the help of a maintenance and management team. 

In Illinois, safe, decent and affordable public housing is offered and managed by local Housing Authorities. Rental housing for low-income residents is available in many communities across the State of Illinois. 

Illinois Public Housing rental units come in various types and sizes, and normally offer on-site management, maintenance staff, and may even include other supportive services. Normally there is a waiting list and once a unit becomes available the qualified applicant is invited to a meeting with the Housing Authority official where detailed information on the Public Housing Program is provided and the available public housing unit is offered.

As per the HUD requirements, the approved Illinois low-income family pays a portion of their monthly income in rent, and the rest is subsidized by the HUD Public Housing grants.

Inquire about current availability of Public Housing rental units by contacting your local Illinois Housing Authority, or search for subsidized apartments in Illinois here.

 Housing Counseling Services

Contact one of the HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies in Ilinois State for the following education workshops or counseling services

– Fair Housing Pre-Purchase Education Workshops
– Financial Management/Budget Counseling
– Home Improvement and Rehabilitation Counseling
– Mortgage Delinquency and Default Resolution Counseling
– Non-Delinquency Post Purchase Workshops
– Pre-purchase Counseling
– Pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Workshops
– Predatory Lending Education Workshops
– Rental Housing Counseling
– Services for Homeless Counseling

Illinois – Making Home Affordable options

Making Home Affordable is a federal program designed to cover different homeowners’ hardships and financial situations. Under the program there are various options that can help Illinois homeowners in hardship stay in their homes. Depending on the situation Illinois homeowners in hardship can apply to lower their monthly payments, lower the interest rate on their home loan or even get principal reduction in some cases.

There are foreclosure alternatives and temporarily help for unemployed homeowners as well.

Here are some of the most used options under Making Home Affordable Program:

HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development) approved housing counselor can be reached at 888-995-4673  (Hearing impaired: 877-304-9709 TTY) to help you understand your options, prepare your application, and work with your mortgage company.

Illinois Homeless Service Organizations

Illinois has regional homeless service organizations that coordinate local resources and can provide assistance to the homeless. Some Illinois Homeless Service Organizations are funded through Continuum of Care (CoC). Continuum of Care is a federal program that consolidates the following Homeless Assistance programs: the Shelter Plus Care Program, the Supportive Housing Program, and the Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy Program. The CoC Program is designed to promote community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness by providing grants to nonprofit providers, State, and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities.

Illinois Homeless Service Organizations funded by CoC assist individuals (including unaccompanied youth) and families experiencing homelessness. With the main goal of long-term stability, those Illinois homeless service organizations provide the services that are needed to help such individuals move into transitional and permanent housing. Here is a list of Illinois Homeless Shelters

If you are homeless in Illinois and need help – call the listed homeless service organization in your area.

American Red Cross
727 N. Church Street
Rockford, Illinois 61103
(217) 963-8471

American Red Cross
Second Chance Shelter East St. Louis
240 N. 6th. St East
St. Louis, Missouri 62201-3001
(618) 482-5662

BCMW Community Services, Inc.
909 E. Rexford
Centralia, Illinois 62801
(618) 532-7143

Beds Plus
P.O. Box 2035
LaGrange, IL 60525
(708) 354-0858

Carver Community Action
P.O. Box 28
235 East Main
Galesburg, Illinois 61402-0028
(309) 342-0158

Catholic Charities 60100th Street North Chicago
671 S. Lewis Avenue
Waukegan, Illinois 60085
(847) 782-4000

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet
611 E. Cass St
Joliet, Illinois 60432
(815) 774-4663

Catholic Urban Programs
Holy Angel Shelter
1410 N. 37th East
St. Louis, Illinois 62205
(618) 874-4079

CEFS Economic Oppor. Corp.
P.O. Box 928
1805 South Banker
Effingham, Illinois 62401
(217) 342-4701

Central Illinois Economic Dev. Corp.
1800 – 5th St
Lincoln, Illinois 62656
(217) 732-2159

Community Crisis Center, Inc.
P.O. Box 1390
37 South Geneva
Elgin, Illinois 60121
(847) 697-2380

Connection Resource Service, Inc.
3001 Green Bay Rd. Bldg 5
North Chicago, Illinois 60064
(847) 689-4357

Connections for the Homeless: Hilda’s Place
1458 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, Illinois 60201
(847) 424-0945

Contact Ministries
1100 East Adams St.
Springfield, Illinois 62703
(217) 753-3939

Crisis Center for South Suburbia
Tinley Park, Illinois 60477
(708) 429-7233

Danville Rescue Mission
P.O. Box 1485
834 North Bowman
Danville, Illinois 61832-1485
(217) 446-7223

Daybreak Family Support Center
611 East Cass Street
Joliet, Illinois 60432
(815) 774-4663

DuPage P.A.D.S.
705 W. Liberty
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
(630) 682-3846

Family Shelter Service P.O. Box 3404
Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60138
(630) 469-5650

F.A.C.C.
514 S. Chicago Avenue
Freeport, Illinois 61032
(217) 233-0435

Good Samaritan House
1825 Delmar
Granite City, Illinois 62040-4508
(618) 876-0607

Good Samaritan Ministries
701 S. Marion
Carbondale, Illinois 62901
(618) 457-5794

Grace House (women and women with children)
851 E. Cantrell
PO Box 1215
Decatur, Illinois 62525
(217) 422-8064

Groundwork
1550 Plainfield Road
Joliet, Illinois 60435
(815) 729-1228

Hesed House, Inc.
659 South River Street
Aurora, IL 60506
(630) 897-2156

Helping Hands of Springfield, Inc.
200 S. 11th Street
Springfield, Illinois 62703
(217) 522-0048

Home of the Sparrow, Inc
5342 W Elm St.,
McHenry, IL 60050
(815) 271-5444

Home Sweet Home Mission, Inc.
303 E. Oakland Avenue
Bloomington, Illinois 61701-5292
(309) 828-7356

Hope Haven
1145 Rushmoore Drive
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
(815) 758-3166

Hope in Christ Ministries
1515 S. 14th
Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864
(618) 241-9307

Illinois Valley Public Action
To Deliver Shelter
1120 Canal St
Ottawa, Illinois 61350
(815) 433-1292

Illinois Valley Public Action
To Deliver Shelter
132 Menard Ave.
Peru, Illinois 61354
(815) 224-3047

Journeys from PADS to HOPE
1140 E. Northwest Highway
Palatine, IL 60074
(847) 963-9163

Lazarus House
214 Walnut Street St.
Charles, Illinois 60174-2836
(630) 587-2144

Madonna House
P.O. Box 246
405 South 12th St.
Quincy, Illinois 62306
(217) 224-7771

McHenry County P.A.D.S.
14411 Kishwaukee Valley Road
Woodstock, Illinois 60098
(815) 338-5231

MCS Community Services
345 West State Street
Jacksonville, Illinois 62650
(217) 243-9404

Morning Star Mission
350 East Washington
St Joliet, Illinois 60433
(815) 722-5780

Mutual Ground, Inc.
P.O. Box 843
Aurora, Illinois 60507
(630) 897-0080

Outreach Community Ministries, Inc.
122 West Liberty Drive
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
(630) 682-1910

PADS Crisis Services
3001 Green Bay Road – Bldg. #5
North Chicago, IL 60064
(847) 689-4357

PADS of Elgin Inc.
1730 Berkley St.
Elgin, IL 60120
(847) 608-9744

Peoria Citizens Committee for Econ. Opportunity, Inc.
711 W. McBean
Peoria, Illinois 61605
(309) 671-3900

Public Action To Deliver Shelter, Inc.
659 S. River Street
Aurora, Illinois 60506-5551
(630) 897-2156

Respond Now
1439 Emerald Ave
Chicago Heights, Illinois 60411
(708) 755-4357

Saint Monica’s Center
109 East Lawrence Ave
Springfield, Illinois 62704
(217) 523-7922

The Phoenix Group Foundation of Centralia
727 S. Locust St.
Centralia, Illinois 62801
(618) 533-9639

The Salvation Army
525 Alby Street
P.O. Box 524
Alton, Illinois 62002-0524
(618) 465-7764

The Salvation Army
4102 W. Main
Belleville, Illinois 62226-5806
(618) 236-2167

The Salvation Army
611 W. Washington
P.O. Box 3186
Bloomington, Illinois 61701-3186
(309) 829-9476

The Salvation Army
119 E. University
Champaign, Illinois 61820
(217) 373-7832

The Salvation Army
106 W. Exchange
Freeport, Illinois 61032
(217) 235-7639

The Salvation Army
148 N. Harrison Ave
Kankakee, Illinois 60901
(815) 933-8421

The Salvation Army
417 N.E. Adams
Peoria, Illinois 61603
(309) 655-7272

The Salvation Army
400 Broadway
Quincy, Illinois 62301
(217) 222-2087

The Salvation Army
530 N. 6th Street
Springfield, Illinois 62702
(217) 525-2196

The Salvation Army
P.O. Box 358
117 South Bloomington
Streator, Illinois 61364
(217) 672-2746

Shelter Care Ministries
412 N. Church Street
Rockford, Illinois 61103
(815) 964-5520

South Suburban Family Shelter, Inc.
P.O. Box 937
Homewood, Illinois 60430
(708) 335-3028

Southern Seven Health Dept.
37 Rustic Campus Drive
Ullin, Illinois 62992
(618) 634-2297

Stopping Woman Abuse Now
P.O. Box 176
Olney, Illinois 62450
(618) 392-3556

TIMES Center
70 E. Washington St.
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 398-7785

Transitional Mental Health Services
Community Counseling Center
460 Garfield St. East Wing
Aurora, Illinois 60506
(630) 896-2223

Tri-County Opportunities Council
P.O. Box 610
405 Emmons Ave.
Rock Falls, Illinois 61071
(217) 625-7830

Two Rivers Regional
Council of Public Officials
Franklin Square/4th & State St
Quincy, Illinois 62301
(217) 224-8171

Volunteer Services, Inc.
410 West Main St
West Frankfort, Illinois 62896
(618) 937-3581

Wabash Area Development, Inc.
P.O. Box 70
100 North Latham
Enfield, Illinois 62835
(618) 963-2387

West Suburban PADS
Box 797
Oak Park, IL  60303
(708) 338-1724

YMCA-Metro Chicago/SW YMCA
3801 West 127th St
Alsip, Illinois 60803
(708) 385-6700

YWCA of Danville
201 North Hazel
Danville, Illinois 61832
(217) 446-1217

YWCA Shelter for Battered Women and Their Children
Evanston, Illinois
877-418-1868

YWCA of Peoria
714 Hamilton Blvd
Peoria, Illinois 61603
(309) 674-1167

Williamson County Family Crisis Center
514 N. 18th Street
P.O. Box 2066
Herrin, Illinois 62948
(618) 988-8020

Illinois Low-Rent Apartments

Find more and search for Illinois subsidized and low-rent apartments here.

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