Housing Resources

Aging Population

Alzheimer's Association Senior Housing Finder - Click on Housing Options to find assisted living places, continuous retirement care communities, independent living locations, and skilled nursing facilities.
Illinois Area Agencies on Aging - Information on the 13 Area Agencies on Aging in Illinois, which have the primary task of planning and coordinating services and programs for older people in their respective areas.
Illinois Supportive Living Program - Personal care and other services in an alternative to a nursing home for low-income, older persons and persons with physical disabilities under Medicaid.

Emergencies, Natural Disasters

FEMA Housing Resourecs - FEMA Housing Resources
Illinois Department of Insurance Resources for Homeowners and Renters - The Department provides funding to potentially cover persons who cannot find homeowners insurance, as well as general information for both homeowners and renters.
Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) program - Funded by Illinois Emergency Management Agency, the program assists residential properties in addressing frequent flooding and repetitive loss.

Energy Efficiency, Utility Assistance, and Lead Prevention

Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) - Provides funding for low income residents and households to reduce energy costs by making the home more energy efficient.
Illinois Lead Program - Program that aims to eliminate childhood lead poisoning by preventing environmental health hazards in residences.
Illinois Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - Utility payment assistance for low-income households.

Experiencing Homelessness

311 City Services Online - Information regarding City of Chicago programs and events as well as a wide range of City Services.
City of Chicago Department of Family Support Services - Homeless Services - Includes links to Chicago Plan to End Homelessness, the Housing First programs, and the Shelter System.
Homeless Continuum of Care Consortia and Contacts in Illinois
Homeless Shelters in Illinois - Outside of Chicago
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Homeless Resources page

Fair Housing Rights

City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations - Charged with enforcing the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance and the Chicago Fair Housing Ordinance.
Illinois Human Rights Commission - Information on the Illinois Human Rights Commission's mission to adjudicate complaints of civil rights violations in employment, real property transactions, access to financial credit and public accommodations.
Illinois Department of Human Rights - Administers the Illinois Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (with regard to employment), familial status (with regard to real estate transactions), age, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status, unfavorable military discharge, and sexual orientation.
Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications Guidebook - Resource that provides examples and case studies to explain how a person can request a reasonable modification or accommodation to improve accessibility for all disabilities.

Home Modifications Funding

Illinois Home Modification Program - Illinois Housing Development Authority offers funding to rehab single family homes and add accessibility improvements to allow residents to stay in their homes.
Housing Rehabilitation Program - Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) issues grants to local communities to help improve homes of low-to-moderate income residents in owner-occupied single-family homes.

Homeownership Assistance and Counceling

VA Home Loans - Homeownership Program for Veterans and Active Service Personnel. Loan offers significantly below market homeownership financing and counseling.
Homeownership Programs - Administered by Illinois Housing Development Authority these programs fund below-market mortgages, down payment and closing cost assistance and buying a vacant or foreclosed home.
HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agencies in Illinois - Housing Counseling Agencies can assist with fair housing issues, rental housing guidance, home buying guidance, budgeting, improving credit score strategies, and many other home related topics.
Illinois Office of the Treasurer Finally Home Program - Another program that assists future and current homebuyers to secure or refinance their mortgages.

Legal Rights and Services

Illinois Attorney General - Landlord and Tenant Rights and Laws
Illinois Legal Aid - Find your local Legal Aid office that provides legal advice, information and referral services to low-income residents of Illinois.
Lawyers Committee for Better Housing - Promotes availability of and access to decent, safe and affordable housing and supports low and moderate-income households in Chicago through legal representation, individual and public advocacy, supportive social services and education.

Living with a Disability

Access Living - Offers peer-oriented independent living services; public education, awareness and development; individualized and systemic advocacy; and enforcement of civil rights on behalf of people with disabilities in Chicago.
City of Chicago Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities
Equip for Equality (Illinois Protection and Advocacy System) - Source of self-advocacy assistance, legal services, and disability rights education resources for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities in Illinois.
Home Modification and Assistive Technology Resources in Illinois - A comprehensive list of all Department of Human Services related programs and funding that can assist persons living with a disability.
Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission - Protects the rights and promotes the welfare of persons with disabilities.
Illinois Attorney General - Disability Rights
Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities - Independent state agency with federal funding that advocates for the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (Illinois Chapter) - Provide up to date education and support programs, and increase public awareness and understanding of mental illness.
Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois - Our Mission – To provide leadership, research, planning and education required to support independent living services in Illinois.

Long Term Care

Illinois Department of Public Health - Bureau of Long-term Care - Search a listing of Illinois nursing homes and learn about regulation and how to select a nursing home.
Illinois Home and Community Based Services Waiver Programs - Information on programs that provide services allowing individuals to remain in their own home or live in a community setting.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program - Protects and promotes the rights and quality of life for people who reside in long-term care facilities (nursing homes).

Other Housing Search Sites

Illinois Housing Development Authority Properties - Search for housing financed by Illinois Housing Development Authority.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Subsidized Apartment Search
U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development Multi-Family Housing Rentals Search

Other Affordable and Supportive Housing Programs

Contact information for Public Housing Authorities in Illinois
Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies - Find local Community Action Agencies that offer assistance with nutrition, housing and homeownership, energy costs, weatherization and more.
Illinois Re-Entry Resources - Website that guides persons returning home from prison towards resources for housing, health services, legal assistance, and other support services.
Illinois Rental Housing Support Program - Search for participating landlords that provide rental assistance for eligible populations outside of Chicago.

Transportation

Illinois Paratransit Services by Map Search
Regional Transportation Authority - Information about public transportation options for the Chicago Metro area

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