Affordable Housing in Chicago, IL

This page collects the specific programs, agencies, phone numbers, and rules that apply in Chicago and Cook County — not generic Section 8 advice. CHA's Housing Choice Voucher waitlist has been closed since 2008 with 16,000+ households still waiting, so the realistic short-term path is one-time help through the City's RAP/ERAP programs and the named shelters and legal aid services below. Chicago tenants also have the Midwest's strongest local tenant protections under the RLTO, plus Illinois statewide source-of-income protection enacted in 2023.

Emergency Help Tonight in Chicago

If you need a safe place to sleep tonight or are facing an imminent eviction, these are the local resources to contact first:

• Pacific Garden Mission — Chicago's oldest continuously operating rescue mission. 24/7 emergency shelter for men, women, and children at 1458 S. Canal St. (312) 922-9822 · pgm.org
• Franciscan Outreach Association — operates the Franciscan House (West Side, 700+ beds) and the Marquard Center, two of the city's largest shelters. (773) 894-6100 · franciscanoutreach.org
• Salvation Army Shield of Hope — central interim housing intake for Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS). 1 N. Ogden Ave. (312) 986-3707
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago — multiple emergency shelters and family supportive housing across the metro area. (312) 655-5500 · catholiccharities.net
• Inspiration Corporation — case management, employment training, and shelter linkages
• The Night Ministry — overnight outreach, youth shelter (Crib for ages 18-24), and street medicine. (773) 878-1208
• Mercy Home for Boys & Girls — emergency shelter and residential programs for youth
• La Casa Norte — youth and family emergency shelter, supportive housing on the Northwest Side. (773) 248-1940 · lacasanorte.org
• Connections for the Homeless (Evanston/North Shore) — emergency shelter and rapid rehousing
• Apna Ghar, Family Rescue, WINGS — domestic violence shelters with 24-hour crisis lines
• City of Chicago DFSS Homeless Outreach Hotline — 311 from a Chicago phone (ask for homeless outreach) or (312) 744-7001
• 211 Metro Chicago — free 24/7 information line. Dial 211

For a full walkthrough, see our emergency housing tonight guide.

Section 8 in Chicago: CHA Status and How to Apply

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers in Chicago are administered by the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), the second-largest public housing authority in the country. Current status (May 2026):

• HCV (Section 8) waitlist: the general HCV waitlist closed in 2008 and has not reopened. More than 16,000 households remain on the waitlist nearly two decades later
• Project-Based Voucher (PBV) waitlist: CHA operates rolling PBV waitlists for specific developments — apply property-by-property through applyonline.thecha.org
• Public Housing waitlist: partially open for specific senior and family developments — check applyonline.thecha.org for current openings
• Specialty referrals still accepted: HUD-VASH (veterans), Family Unification Program (FUP), Emergency Housing Vouchers (where capacity allows), Mainstream vouchers, Foster Youth to Independence vouchers
• Eligibility: 30% AMI for prioritized populations, up to 80% AMI for most CHA programs. 2026 limits vary by household size — check CHA's online portal
• Suburban Cook County: the Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) serves suburban Cook County and runs separate waitlists. (708) 502-9100 · thehacc.org
• Contact: CHA Customer Care Center (312) 935-1777 · thecha.org

For the national application process, see our step-by-step Section 8 guide.

Emergency Rental Assistance in Chicago (Named Programs)

• City of Chicago Rental Assistance Program (RAP) — Chicago's primary one-time emergency rental assistance for households facing eviction. Administered by DFSS and delegate agencies. chicago.gov/RentalAssistance
• City of Chicago Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) — covers rent arrears for households at risk of eviction. chicago.gov/ERAP
• All Chicago Emergency Financial Assistance — flexible diversion funds administered through the Continuum of Care. allchicago.org
• Illinois Homeless Prevention and Emergency Fund — state-funded prevention dollars routed through partner agencies for the July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027 grant cycle
• Rentervention by Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing (LCBH) — free chatbot-based legal help. Drafts letters and connects you with attorneys. Text "hi" to 866-773-6837 or call (312) 347-7600 · rentervention.com
• The Resurrection Project — Pilsen/Little Village rental assistance and homeownership help with Spanish-language services. resurrectionproject.org
• Catholic Charities, Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul — one-time rental and utility help through neighborhood offices
• NHS Chicago (Neighborhood Housing Services) — Emergency Assistance Grants, homeowner-focused but referrals available
• LIHEAP through CEDA (Community and Economic Development Association) — utility help for low-income households. (800) 244-1444
• 211 Metro Chicago — screens and routes to whichever provider has funds open this month

Tenant Rights in Chicago (RLTO and Cook County RTLO)

Chicago has the strongest tenant protections in the Midwest, layered over Illinois state law:

• Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO), Municipal Code Chapter 5-12 — covers almost all rental units in Chicago. Notable rules:
• Late fee cap: $10 for the first $500 of monthly rent, plus 5% of any rent above $500. Many landlords overcharge here — RLTO violations entitle you to refund plus damages
• Notice to terminate or non-renew: 30 days if tenancy under 6 months, 60 days if 6 months to 3 years, 120 days if 3+ years (under the 2020 Chicago Fair Notice Ordinance)
• Security deposit: separate bank account in IL, interest paid annually, returned within 45 days. Chicago RLTO penalties for violations are two times the deposit plus attorney's fees
• Warranty of habitability: RLTO § 5-12-070 — heat, hot water, electricity, gas, plumbing, structural integrity all required. Tenant remedies include withholding (with caution), repair-and-deduct, and termination
• Retaliation prohibited: RLTO § 5-12-150 prohibits eviction, rent increases, or service reductions in response to tenant complaints or organizing
• Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance (RTLO) — covers most rentals in unincorporated and many suburban Cook County areas (effective June 1, 2021). Similar to but slightly weaker than the Chicago RLTO
• Just Cause for Eviction (Chicago COVID-era ordinance, still partially in effect): certain protections apply during declared emergencies
• Source-of-income protection: the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance prohibits landlords from refusing Section 8 vouchers or other housing assistance. Cook County also has source-of-income protection. Illinois statewide source-of-income protection was enacted in 2023 and now applies to all of Illinois
• Notice for nonpayment of rent: 5-day notice statewide (Illinois Forcible Entry and Detainer Act, 735 ILCS 5/9-209). Paying within those 5 days defeats the eviction
• Eviction process: filed in Cook County Circuit Court (Daley Center). After judgment, the Cook County Sheriff serves the writ. Sheriff lockouts can take weeks to schedule
• Self-help eviction is illegal: RLTO § 5-12-160 and state law impose damages of two months' rent or twice actual damages

For free legal help: Legal Aid Chicago at (312) 241-8500 · Lawyers' Committee for Better Housing / Rentervention at (312) 347-7600 · The Law Project of the Chicago Lawyers' Committee. For state-level details, see our Illinois housing resources.

Other Housing Programs in Chicago

• Public housing: CHA owns and manages public-housing communities across Chicago including senior buildings and family scattered-site units
• LIHTC (Tax Credit): substantial Chicago LIHTC inventory. Search the HUD LIHTC database
• HUD-VASH (veterans): Chicago veterans referred through Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. See how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Rapid Rehousing & Permanent Supportive Housing — coordinated through All Chicago Continuum of Care
• Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) — first-time homebuyer, multifamily LIHTC allocation, HAF homeowner help. ihda.org
• HUD-approved housing counseling: find a counselor through the HUD counselor locator

Next Steps

Not sure which program is right for you? Our Where to Start tool asks a few quick questions and routes you to the right combination of programs.

The CHA voucher waitlist is closed and 16,000+ households are already waiting — call (312) 935-1777 only to check your existing position or ask about specialty referrals (HUD-VASH, FUP, EHV). For rent help, apply to Chicago RAP/ERAP through chicago.gov or dial 211. If you got a 5-day notice, text 'hi' to 866-773-6837 (Rentervention) the same day — Illinois source-of-income protection now makes voucher refusal illegal statewide.