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Illinois HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies and Programs Offered.
Illinois presents a diverse housing landscape where the high property taxes of Cook County and the "Collar Counties" collide with the that of cities like Rockford and Peoria. Residents in the urban centers or rural areas may still struggle from time to time to pay their mortgage or in dealing with housing affordability and property tax burdens. HUD-approved counseling agencies in Illinois, as listed below, serve as a critical resource, offering support.
These non-profit organizations provide professional guidance for individuals facing eviction, homeowners in default on their mortgage or property taxes, and first-time buyers looking for down payment assistance. Because Illinois is a judicial foreclosure state, the process can be lengthy and complex; working with a certified HUD approved counselor early can often prevent a court filing. Services are generally free or offered on a sliding scale based on income, ensuring that financial advice is accessible to low-to-moderate-income families across the state.
In Southern and Central Illinois, the challenges often shift toward aging housing stock and a lack of affordable rental units. In these rural regions, HUD-approved agencies often double as Community Action Agencies, blending housing advice with energy assistance (LIHEAP) and home repair programs. The following directory identifies these agencies, categorized by region, with a specific focus on their unique programs—from bilingual immigration support to low-interest home repair loans.
Chicago and Cook County
- Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago - 115 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60654-3209. Phone 312-640-2100. https://www.accessliving.org.
Unique Service: Specializes in housing needs for people with disabilities, including accessibility advocacy and independent living transitions.
- Agora Community Services Corporation - 1831 East 79th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60649-4634. Phone 773-483-3888. http://www.agoraservices.org.
Unique Service: Offers specific workshops on predatory lending education and services for homeless prevention.
- Brighton Park Neighborhood Council - 4477 South Archer Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60632-2845. Phone 773-523-7110. https://www.bpncchicago.org
Unique Service: Deeply embedded in the Southwest side with a focus on non-delinquency post-purchase workshops for new homeowners.
- CEDA of Cook County, Inc. - 567 West Lake Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, Illinois 60661-1405. Phone 312-288-8010. https://cedaorg.net.
Unique Focus: This is the primary provider for LIHEAP (energy assistance) and Weatherization in Cook County. They integrate housing counseling into those programs.
- Center for Changing Lives - 1955 North Saint Louis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60647-2049. Phone 773-342-6210. https://www.cclconnect.org.
Unique Service: Integrates financial coaching with an employment resource center to help residents increase their income to sustain housing.
- Chicago Urban League - 4510 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60653-3898. Phone 773-285-1500. https://chiul.org
Unique Focus: Combines housing counseling with workforce development, job placement, and youth educational programs to address the root causes of housing instability.
- Chinese American Service League - 2141 South Tan Court, Chicago, Illinois 60616-1930. Phone 312-791-0418. https://www.caslservice.org
Unique Focus: Provides culturally competent housing advice in Chinese dialects, alongside senior meal programs and immigration legal assistance.
- Erie Neighborhood House - 1347 West Erie Street, Chicago, Illinois 60642. Phone 312-666-3430. https://eriehouse.org.
Unique Service: Offers comprehensive "Family Resource Centers" that provide legal help for immigrants alongside housing stability counseling.
- Far South Community Development Corporation - 837 West 115th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60643-4618. Phone 773-831-7107. https://farsouthcdc.org.
Unique Service: Focuses on neighborhood revitalization and helping residents in the Far South side navigate local property tax exemptions.
- Greater Southwest Development Corporation - 6155 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, Illinois 60629-4641. Phone 773-735-6727. https://greatersouthwest.org.
Unique Service: Specialized in "Senior Satellite" services, helping elderly residents with reverse mortgage counseling and property maintenance.
- Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA) - 3541 West North Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60647-4808. Phone 773-276-5338. https://lucha.org
Unique Focus: Operates a "Community Health & Wellness" program that links housing stability to physical health, specifically serving the West Town and Humboldt Park areas.
- NACA (Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America) - 4425 West 63rd Street, Suite 200, Chicago, Illinois 60629-5565. Phone 773-723-6222. https://www.naca.com
Unique Service: Famous for its "Best in America" mortgage program with no down payment and no closing costs.
- Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, Inc. (NHS) - 850 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois 60607. Phone 773-329-4111. https://nhschicago.org \
Unique Focus: Unlike standard counselors, NHS offers specific low-interest home improvement loans and lead-based paint abatement grants for Chicago homeowners.
- Northwest Center - 5233 West Diversey Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60639. Phone 773-283-3888 https://northwestcenterchicago.org.
Unique Service: Active in legislative advocacy for tenants' rights and provides localized rental assistance workshops.
- Rogers Park Community Development Corporation - 1530 West Morse Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60626. Phone 773-262-2290 https://northsidecdc.org.
Unique Service: Focuses on the unique high-density rental market of the North Side, providing specialized landlord-tenant mediation.
- Spanish Coalition for Housing - 1922 North Pulaski Road, Chicago, Illinois 60639-4010. Phone 773-342-7575. https://sc4housing.org
Unique Focus: Specialized in bilingual (Spanish/English) services with a heavy emphasis on property tax appeal workshops and landlord-tenant mediation for the Latino community.
- The Hana Center - 4300 North California Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60618-1514. Phone 773-583-5501 https://hanacenter.org
Unique Service: Provides housing advice specifically for the Korean American and multi-ethnic immigrant communities, including bilingual support.
- The Resurrection Project - 1805 South Paulina Street, Chicago, Illinois 60608. Phone 312-666-1323. https://resurrectionproject.org
Unique Focus: A leader in "Full Circle" services that include immigration legal defense and community organizing alongside financial coaching.
Northern Illinois (Suburbs and Rockford Area)
- Community Service Council of Northern Will County - 440 Quadrangle Drive, Suite C, Bolingbrook, Illinois 60440-3454. Phone 815-886-5000. http://www.thecsc.org.
Unique Service: Heavily focused on reverse mortgage (HECM) counseling and financial literacy for seniors.
- H.O.M.E. DuPage, Inc. - 1600 East Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. Phone 630-260-2500. https://homedupage.org.
Unique Service: Manages the DuPage County Down Payment Assistance program and offers specialized townhome/condo purchase counseling.
- Lake County Housing Authority - 33928 North Route 45, Grayslake, Illinois 60030. Phone 847-223-1170. https://www.lakecountyha.org.
Unique Service: Offers a unique "HCV to Homeownership" program helping Section 8 voucher holders transition into buying their own homes.
- The Neighbor Project - 32 South Broadway, Aurora, Illinois 60505-3308. Phone 630-906-9400. https://www.neighborproject.us.
Unique Service: Features a matched savings program (Individual Development Accounts) to help low-income families save for a down payment.
- North West Housing Partnership - 1699 East Woodfield Road, Suite 404, Schaumburg, Illinois 60173. Phone 847-969-0561. https://nwhp.net.
Unique Service: Administers "Handyman Programs" for seniors and persons with disabilities to help them age in place safely.
- NW Home Start, Inc. - 307 West Main Street, Freeport, Illinois 61032. Phone 815-232-6197. https://nwhomestart.org.
Unique Service: Focuses on rural housing needs and provides specialized advice on USDA rural development home loans.
- Rockford Area Affordable Housing Coalition - 205 North Church Street, Rockford, Illinois 61101-1003. Phone 815-962-2011. https://raahc.org.
Unique Service: Highly active in urban blight reduction and helping residents purchase renovated properties at lower costs.
- South Suburban Housing Center - 18220 Harwood Avenue, Suite 1, Homewood, Illinois 60430-2151. Phone 708-957-4674. https://southsuburbanhousingcenter.org.
Unique Service: Specializes in fair housing enforcement and investigating discrimination in the southern Cook and Will County areas.
- Will County Center for Community Concerns - 2455 Glenwood Avenue, Joliet, Illinois 60435. Phone 815-722-0722. https://wcccc.net.
Unique Service: As a Community Action Agency, they offer a "Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing" program for those in immediate crisis.
Central Illinois
- C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation (Main) - 1805 South Banker Street, Effingham, Illinois 62401-2765. Phone 217-342-2193. https://www.cefseoc.org
Unique Service: Provides extensive home improvement and rehabilitation counseling for rural Central Illinois.
- Christian County: 220 West Franklin, Taylorville, Illinois 62568. Phone 217-824-4712
- Clay County: 835 West North, Flora, Illinois 62839. Phone 618-662-4024
- Fayette County: 517 West Gallatin Street, Vandalia, Illinois 62471. Phone 618-283-2631
- Montgomery County: 8353 South Route 127, Taylor Springs, Illinois 62089. Phone 217-532-5971
- Moultrie County: 114 East Harrison Street, Sullivan, Illinois 61951. Phone 217-728-7721
- ERBA Coles County Outreach - 696 Castle Drive, Charleston, Illinois 61920-7475. Phone 217-923-3113. https://www.erbainc.org.
Unique Service: Provides localized support for the Coles County area, integrating housing advice with Head Start and food pantry resources.
- Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County - 119 East University Avenue, Champaign, Illinois 61820-4110. Phone 217-819-5113. https://cuhabitat.org.
Unique Service: Offers "A Brush with Kindness," providing exterior home preservation and minor repairs for low-income seniors.
- Macoupin County Housing Authority - 760 Anderson Street, Carlinville, Illinois 62626-1003. Phone 217-854-8606. https://macoupinhousing.org.
Unique Service: Focuses on family self-sufficiency programs and public housing transition counseling.
- Menard County Housing Authority - 101 West Sheridan Road, Petersburg, Illinois 62675-1349. Phone 217-632-7723. https://menardcha.org
Unique Service: Highly specialized in home improvement and rehabilitation counseling for rural residents.
- Mid Central Community Action, Inc. - 1301 West Washington Street, Bloomington, Illinois 61701-4458. Phone 309-829-0691. https://mccainc.org.
Unique Service: Integrates housing counseling with "Next Step" financial coaching and a domestic violence shelter program.
- Navicore Solutions (Peoria) - 416 Main Street, Suite 800, Peoria, Illinois 61602. Phone 800-992-4557. https://navicoresolutions.org.
Unique Service: A national non-profit that provides highly detailed debt management plans and bankruptcy counseling for homeowners.
- Springfield Urban League, Inc. - 100 North 11th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62703. Phone 217-789-0830. https://www.springfieldul.org
Unique Service: Provides a "Homeownership Center" that offers specific guidance on down payment assistance grants for Sangamon County.
Southern Illinois
- Madison County Urban League - 408 East Broadway Street, Alton, Illinois 62002-2417. Phone 618-463-1906. https://www.ulmsl.org.
Unique Service: Offers specialized fair housing pre-purchase education workshops for residents in the Alton and Edwardsville areas.
- Money Management International (Mt. Vernon) - 123 South 10th Street, Suite 205, Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864. Phone 888-845-5669. https://www.moneymanagement.org.
Unique Service: Focuses on extensive credit counseling and debt consolidation for homeowners in deep Southern Illinois.
- Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (East St. Louis) - 1401 East Broadway, East St. Louis, Illinois 62201. Phone 618-274-1150. https://www.ulmsl.org.
Unique Service: Provides comprehensive crisis intervention, including utility help and clothing assistance, alongside housing counseling.
- Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council - #1 Industrial Park, Steeleville, Illinois 62288. Phone 618-965-3193. https://weeoc.org.
Unique Service: Serves the southernmost rural counties with a focus on senior nutrition and weatherization for manufactured homes.
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