1987:  SHAC holds its first convention for housing advocates to gather ideas and information to prioritize legislative efforts. 

The Campaign to Save Subsidized Housing is created to protect the tenants of 14,000 assisted section 8 units from displacement due to contract prepayments.

1988:  SHAC hires its first paid staff person, who moves into the offices of the Lawyer’s Committee for Better Housing.  SHAC joins the “three cents for housing” campaign to get City of Chicago to spend 3% of its budget on affordable housing.

1989:  After four years of work, legislation creating the Illinois Affordable Trust Fund becomes law. To date, the Trust Fund has created and preserved more than 36,000 affordable units.

1990:  SHAC publishes the first issue of Trust Fund News, an in-depth housing magazine focusing on issues for non-profit developers.

In October, SHAC helps organize Chicago Affordable Housing Coalition Housing Summit and March for Affordable Housing as part of “three cents for housing” campaign.

SHAC begins providing technical assistance to nonprofit housing developers.  To date, this work has resulted in the development or preservation of more than 1,400 affordable units.

1991- 1992:  SHAC restructures itself to focus on rebuilding its internal organization and fundraising.  SHAC begins the Affordability Campaign.

1993:  SHAC becomes state partner of The National Low Income Housing Coalition Board, a relationship that continues to the present, and is invited to join Center for Community Change Public Housing Advisory Board. 

SHAC campaigns for tenant representation on Public Housing Authority Boards, property tax exemptions for non-profit owned affordable housing, and minimum housing standards for private rental housing. 

1994:  This year’s annual convention kicks off the Housing Justice for Illinois Campaign, part of a national campaign to increase public awareness and action to address the affordable housing crisis.  The campaign is a response to Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America.

1995: Housing Justice Campaign holds press conference and April 15 “tax day” rally to protest proposed cuts to federal housing budget.

SHAC receives two multi year grants from HUD, allowing for the addition of two more staff, totaling 3!!!

1996: Campaign for creation of state Department of Housing and establishment of Tenant’s Rights Ombudsman within the office of Attorney General. 

1999: As co-leader of the It Takes a Home to Raise a Child Campaign with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, successfully advocated for the creation of the Homelessness Prevention Program, which to date has assisted more than 44,000 families experiencing a temporary crisis, such as job loss or a health care emergency, with one-time grants to keep them housed.

After a four-year campaign, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) reform legislation, requiring housing impact studies and compensation for displaced households, is signed into law.

2000: The Illinois Assisted Housing Research and Action Project (IHARP), a partnership with the UIC Vorhees Center and Latinos United, releases its first report on expiring Section 8 contacts. IHARP is the first comprehensive computerized database of assisted housing units in Illinois.

2002:  SHAC mobilizes more than 500 individuals to participate in statewide affordable housing hearings, which leads to the establishment of the Governor’s Housing Task Force, an annual state housing plan, and committees on housing in the Illinois House and Senate and other victories.

Persistent advocacy via the “It Takes a Home to Raise a Child” campaign secures a critical $4 million increase to the Homelessness Prevention Program Budget. 

IHARP releases Evaluation of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program in Illinois.

2003:  A new five year strategic plan is completed. 

At SHAC’s request, Governor Rod Blagojevich declares March 10-16 as Affordable Housing Week in Illinois, a week of public education events throughout the state that SHAC began organizing annually in 1986. 

SHAC holds 8 Housing Development Orientations to assist community planners, local elected officials, and others integrate affordable housing into overall development plans for small cities in Illinois.

2004:  SHAC merges with Illinois Housing Counseling Professionals.

Launches the Community Housing Developers Institute, a comprehensive workshop series that has enhanced the housing development skills of more than one hundred people from Illinois not-for-profits.

SHAC continues its annual collaboration with the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) to protect the HUD budget.  The cuts proposed by the Bush administration in 2005 are particularly severe but mostly averted in the end.

IHARP releases Evaluation of the HOME Program in Illinois.

Begins working with community leaders in DuPage Housing Action Coalition.

Housing Action Illinois works with community organizers in Kane County to found the Kane County Housing Coalition.

2005:  SHAC changes its name and image to Housing Action Illinois. 

After a three-year campaign by the It Takes a Home to Raise a Child Campaign, legislation creating the Rental Housing Support Program, with a dedicated funding stream of $25 million in its first year, is signed into law.

Housing Action Illinois works with the Metropolitan Planning Council and Illinois Housing Development Authority to expand REACH, a statewide employer assisted housing program. 

Housing Action Illinois works with community organizers in DeKalb to found the DeKalb County Housing Coalition.

2006: Housing Action Illinois worked with member organizations to secure $11 million for Homeless Prevention Funding, a 120% increase from the previous year.

Housing Action Illinois organizes coalition efforts to pass that Safe Homes Act, which allows victims of domestic violence and sexual assault that are renters, to change the locks to their apartment and/or break their lease in order to protect their physical safety under certain circumstances.