• Organize a postcard campaign to advocate for legislation that supports affordable housing
• Press outreach, such as Letters to the Editor and editorial board meetings
• Film Screenings & Discussions
• Get Local Governments to do Affordable Housing Month Proclamations
• Community Forums and Congregational Outreach
• Legislative/Community Breakfasts
• Tour or open house of affordable housing sites and/or areas of great housing need

Sign Our Petition Opposing State Budget Cuts

Housing Action Illinois organizes Affordable Housing Month to provide the opportunity for organizations and individuals to raise public awareness about the importance of affordable, accessible and fair housing.

One quick and easy way you can support these efforts is to sign our petition asking our state elected officials to commit to making ending homelessness a priority for Illinois by making the following two changes to Governor Quinn's FY 2012 budget proposal:

• Make no further cuts to homeless prevention in FY 2012 and work to restore previous cuts by FY 2013. In its prime, Illinois’ homeless prevention program provided rental assistance and supportive services to 14,000 households across the state, allowing families to remain in their existing homes and avoid homelessness.

Unfortunately, homeless prevention funding was reduced from $11 million to $2.4 million in FY 2010 and is slated for an additional cut to $1 million in Governor Quinn's FY 2012 budget proposal. Despite the infusion of time-limited homeless prevention resources provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Illinois should still prioritize the cost-effective practice of preventing homelessness whenever possible. Stimulus funds will be exhausted by the end of FY 2012 and the state must start figuring out ways to build back up to $11 million.

• Restore funding of emergency and transitional housing to $9.1 million as funded in FY 2011. This vital program provides comprehensive shelter services to 42,000 adults and children per year. Even at the program’s funding high, Illinoisans are turned away nearly 37,000 times a year due to lack of shelter space. Cutting the program in half, as proposed in Governor Quinn's FY 2012 budget proposal, would force an additional 21,000 people on to our streets.

Our goal is to get 1,000 petition and postcard signatures during March 2011.

Click here to sign the petition.

We can also send you postcards to get actual signatures if you would like. Contact gianna@housingactionil.org to request postcards.

Sample Materials

More materials, such as a sample press release, fact sheets and other information to help you make most of Affordable Housing Month, will be available on this web page soon.

General Interest Form

Affordable Housing Month Proclamation

Selected Planned Activities

1. Francis Parker High School, Chicago, March 4th

Students will participate in a service and advocacy project with Cornerstone Community Outreach and Housing Action Illinois.

2. METEC, Peoria, March 12th

2011 Homeowners Fair: A collaboration of lenders, realtors, insurance companies, HUD approved housing counseling agencies, and other mortgage industry leaders will be available to assist prospective and current homeowners.  The cost is free, but pre-registration is required.

3. Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living, Springfield, March 15th

Press Conference and Lobby Day in Springfield to oppose Governor Quinn’s proposed budget cuts to services for people with disabilities including the elimination of the community reintegration program.

4. Decatur County Homeless Council, March 17th

Affordable Housing Breakfast to discuss challenges faced by homeless families with children.

5. Will County Continuum of Care, March 28

Annual Open Leadership Meeting with legislative and funding updates from Housing Action Illinois.
           
6. Housing Action Illinois      

Postcard and online petition campaign to oppose Governor Quinn’s proposed cuts to the Emergency & Transitional Housing Program and Homeless Prevention Program.

Advocacy training for housing counseling agencies on March 24th.

7. United Congregations of Metro-East           

Writing an Op-Ed article on affordable housing for a local newspaper.

8. Mid Central Community Action Agency 

Writing a newsletter article about housing and transportation costs.

9. DuPage Housing Action Coalition           

Press outreach to illustrate the impact of the Homeless Prevention Program and DHAC members will advocate for affordable housing during a DuPage County Board meeting.

We Want To Work With You

Housing Action Illinois wants to work with you to plan Affordable Housing Month activities.   As Affordable Housing Month approaches, we will distribute a calendar of activities to promote activities throughout the state.

To get more information, please contact Gianna Baker, Outreach Coordinator, at 312-939-6074 x. 110 or gianna@housingactionil.org.