Rental Help: Illinois
HUD-assisted and affordable apartments
HUD helps apartment owners offer reduced rents to low-income tenants. To apply, contact or visit the management office of each apartment building that interests you.
- Use the HUD Resource Locator to search for affordable housing opportunities and other resources near you
- IL Housing Search - free, online resource for renters and property providers in Illinois. Search for affordable, accessible, and market-rate housing that will fit your needs and budget
- City of Chicago Affordable Rental Housing Resource List - Affordable rental housing opportunities by Chicago Community Area
Public Housing and Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
To apply for either type of help, visit your local Public Housing Agency (PHA).
Some PHAs have long waiting lists, so you may want to apply at more than one PHA. Your PHA can also give you a list of locations at which your voucher can be used.
Local tenants rights, laws and protections - Know your rights as a tenant and protections available to you. Find information about landlord-tenant issues, your responsibilities, and resources across Illinois
Need advice?
- Contact a housing counseling agency
- Contact a HUD-approved housing counseling agency for free or low-cost counseling services for buying, renting, defaults, foreclosures, credit issues and reverse mortgages. Search for a HUD-approved housing counseling agency here
- Need Housing Assistance? - HUD Exchange
Other Illinois Resources
- Help with your utility bills
- Find rural units for rent - The USDA subsidizes properties and provides rental assistance to properties in rural communities across the country
- Centers for Independent Living (CIL) - CILs are local not-for-profit service and advocacy organizations. CILs are non-residential, community based, cross-disability organizations that provide a variety of independent living services. You may also call (800) 587-1227.
- Rentals from the Illinois Housing Development Authority
- Low Income Housing Tax Credit units
- HOME contacts - The HOME program provides grants to states and units of general local government to implement local housing strategies designed to increase homeownership and affordable housing opportunities for low and very low-income Americans.
- Skills Training and Job Counseling