Housing Action Illinois
Housing Action Illinois is a Chicago-based public charity and statewide coalition working to increase affordable housing opportunities and end homelessness. Formed in 1987, it says it mobilizes more than 200 member organizations and works through policy advocacy, capacity building, education, and organizing.
Housing Action Illinois at a glance
In short: Housing Action Illinois gave $1.9M across 39 grants in 2025 (avg $49K), mostly in Illinois. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,900,657
- +43.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 39
- +25.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $48,735
- +14.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $43,573
- Total assets
- $3,342,863
- +16.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (8 of 36, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Housing Action Illinois
- Contact
Mailing address: 67 E Madison Street 1603, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (219) 775-5508
Website: https://housingactionil.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Housing Action Illinois funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Embarras River Basin Agency ($191K). Together the top 10 received $981K.
Grant Size Distribution
170 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 117 grants of 170 (69%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Housing Action Illinois describes its coalition and housing-policy work as focused on Illinois. Its housing counseling network is primarily located in Illinois and includes subgrantees in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Tennessee. In 2025, 82% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois; other recipient-state shares were Indiana 5%, Wisconsin 4%, Missouri 3%, and Tennessee 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 39 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Housing Action Illinois open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 36 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $51K; repeat grants $53K. How we count
Medians: $64K first-time, $40K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $926K (2021) to $1.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 39 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Embarras River Basin Agency Greenup, IL | Pass through for HUD Comprehensive Housing Counselling Program, Chicago Community Trust Grant, or both | $191,315 |
| Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | Pass through for HUD Comprehensive Housing Counselling Program, Chicago Community Trust Grant, or both | $103,298 |
| South Suburban Housing Center Homewood, IL | Pass through for HUD Comprehensive Housing Counselling Program, Chicago Community Trust Grant, or both | $84,757 |
| La Casa de Esperanza Waukesha, WI | Pass through for HUD Comprehensive Housing Counselling Program, Chicago Community Trust Grant, or both | $80,203 |
| HOPE of Evansville Evansville, IN | Pass through for HUD Comprehensive Housing Counselling Program, Chicago Community Trust Grant, or both | $71,128 |
| Far South Community Development Corporation Chicago, IL | Pass through for HUD Comprehensive Housing Counselling Program, Chicago Community Trust Grant, or both | $70,312 |
| Habitat for Humanity - Champaign Champaign, IL | Pass through for HUD Comprehensive Housing Counselling Program, Chicago Community Trust Grant, or both | $68,219 |
| HOME DuPage Wheaton, IL | Pass through for HUD Comprehensive Housing Counselling Program, Chicago Community Trust Grant, or both | $66,458 |
| Restoration America Inc Crystal Lake, IL | Pass through for HUD Comprehensive Housing Counselling Program, Chicago Community Trust Grant, or both | $64,555 |
| Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance Chicago, IL | Pass through for HUD Comprehensive Housing Counselling Program, Chicago Community Trust Grant, or both | $63,571 |
Ready to take the next step with Housing Action Illinois?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,342,863 | $5,574,104 | $4,995,810 | $1,900,657 | 39 | $36,120 |
| 2024 | $2,875,686 | $4,360,182 | $4,108,391 | $1,324,275 | 31 | $37,278 |
| 2023 | $2,229,533 | $3,577,625 | $3,819,734 | $1,393,459 | 34 | $17,437 |
| 2022 | $2,430,365 | $3,360,179 | $3,116,340 | $1,197,120 | 33 | $13,028 |
| 2021 | $2,345,366 | $2,882,437 | $2,570,632 | $925,639 | 33 | $4,405 |
| 2020 | $1,608,385 | $3,491,523 | $3,198,080 | $1,443,558 | 60 | $4,849 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Housing Action Illinois’ mission is to increase and preserve the supply of quality, affordable, accessible homes in Illinois for low- and moderate-income families and individuals. It says housing is a human right and that its work includes advancing equitable community development and affirmatively furthering racial justice.
Its work includes advocacy for policies addressing homelessness, affordable rental housing, sustainable homeownership, and fair housing; training and technical assistance for housing organizations; and public education and organizing. Its filing says pass-through grants support affiliated housing counseling agencies. Among 2025 recipients, Embarras River Basin Agency describes its mission as serving at-risk, low-income individuals and families; Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago says it assists and provides services to disabled persons; and South Suburban Housing Center says it works to eliminate housing-market discrimination and exploitation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Housing Action Illinois reported 39 grants totaling $1,900,657. Grants ranged from $5,719 to $191,315, with a median of $43,573. The listed grant purposes describe pass-through support for the HUD Comprehensive Housing Counseling Program, a Chicago Community Trust grant, or both.
Among the largest reported grants were $191,315 to Embarras River Basin Agency (Greenup, Illinois), $103,298 to Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago (Chicago), $84,757 to South Suburban Housing Center (Homewood), and $80,203 to La Casa de Esperanza (Waukesha, Wisconsin). Other large recipients included HOPE of Evansville ($71,128), Far South Community Development Corporation ($70,312), Habitat for Humanity - Champaign ($68,219), HOME DuPage ($66,458), Restoration America ($64,555), Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance ($63,571), Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights ($63,571), and HOPE Fair Housing Center ($63,571).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Darsonya Switzer and Laura Olvera Yarza as Co-Chairs; Kurt Kuyawa as Treasurer; and Jennifer Taff as Secretary. Directors listed are Bob Campbell, Brigitta Mac-Rizzo, Carl Wolf, Cornell Lurry, Horacio Mendez, and Jackie Newman.
Housing Action Illinois is led by Sharon Legenza, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 3 of 18 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sharon Legenza
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$97K (2020) → $154K (2025)
Bob Campbell
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carl Wolf
Director
Co-Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jackie Newman
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Wooten
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Herring Sr.
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shalonda Bedenfield
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Horacio Mendez
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cornell Lurry
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brigitta Mac-Rizzo
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Taff
Secretary & Director
Director → Secretary & Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nick Dodson
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paula bush
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David J Young
Manager
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$108K (2025)
Robert Palmer
Manager
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$108K (2025)
Darsonya Switzer
Co-Chair
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kurt Kuyawa
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Olvera Yarza
Co-Chair
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Nicole Clements (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Shelly Richardson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Laura Olvera (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: David Noble (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Dottie Johnson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Joyce Hothan (2020) — Director
- Former: Kelli Harsch (2020) — Director
- Former: Mary Lu Seidel (2020) — Director · Filing note: Thru 063020
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $154K, to Sharon Legenza (Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Housing Action Illinois
How much does Housing Action Illinois give each year?
Housing Action Illinois gave $1.9M across 39 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 31 grants.
What is Housing Action Illinois's typical grant size?
Housing Action Illinois's median grant in 2025 was $43,573, and its average grant was $48,735, across 39 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Housing Action Illinois that year got $51K on average.
Where does Housing Action Illinois give grants?
Housing Action Illinois gives mostly in Illinois: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (11 grants), Homewood, IL (2 grants), Wheaton, IL (2 grants) and Evanston, IL (2 grants).
Does Housing Action Illinois give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 39 grants with a stated purpose on Housing Action Illinois's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Housing Action Illinois's largest grantees?
Housing Action Illinois's largest 2025 grantees include Embarras River Basin Agency ($191,315), South Suburban Housing Center ($148,328 across 2 grants) and Open Communities ($109,880 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Housing Action Illinois?
Housing Action Illinois reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.6M.
What does Housing Action Illinois fund?
Housing Action Illinois’ mission is to increase and preserve the supply of quality, affordable, accessible homes in Illinois for low- and moderate-income families and individuals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Housing Action Illinois?
Housing Action Illinois has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check housingactionil.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Housing Action Illinois's EIN?
Housing Action Illinois's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3585238. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Housing Action Illinois's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Housing Action Illinois funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/housing-action-illinois-morg_90a561e26ee74fb88a1b4f4d030736d3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363585238_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Housing Action Illinois funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/housing-action-illinois-morg_90a561e26ee74fb88a1b4f4d030736d3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Housing Action Illinois's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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