Housing justice begins in the home of seniors
Composed of community- and faith-based groups, housing experts, and seniors, Fix Our Homes Illinois calls on the State of Illinois and City of Chicago to address the dire home repair needs of seniors.
HB5170
The Bill
What the Senior Home Preservation Program does, who it helps, and where it stands.
Learn moreTake action
Get Involved
Email your legislator, share your story, or join the coalition fighting for this bill.
Learn moreWho we are
The Coalition
More than thirty organizations across Illinois, convened by H.O.M.E. in Chicago.
Learn moreWhy People Need Fix Our Homes Illinois
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“Right now we’re struggling to pay that credit card with the money that we had to charge for the roof. So it’s a burden… We’re on a fixed income, and it’s a struggle every day.”
—Susan
62-year-old homeowner, Chicago
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“If I could have had a grant opportunity, I would still have my mother’s property to leave to my children for an inheritance.“
—Gloria Banks
Member of Mothers Opposed to Violence Everywhere
(M.O.V.E)
Who We Are
Fix Our Homes Illinois is a broad-based coalition dedicated to ensuring that Illinois provides low-income older homeowners the resources they need to age safely, comfortably, and affordably at home.
We raise awareness about the growing repair needs of older homeowners, educate seniors about the home-repair services available to them, and advocate for state and city policies that would increase repair resources for older homeowners.
Events & News
Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.), one of the leading organizations in the Fix Our Homes Illinois Coalition, has an intern, Dani Ediriweera, who has been busy compiling a list of home repair resources for seniors across the state.
The Senate just passed the ROAD to Housing Act, which includes a new Whole-Home Repairs pilot program. This program would give grants and forgivable loans to help low-income homeowners and small landlords fix unsafe or aging homes. Repairs could cover health hazards, safety issues, energy savings, and accessibility improvements. Local governments and nonprofits would run the program, with up to $30 million available through 2031. Supporters say this is a big step toward keeping families in safe, affordable homes.
A new Harvard study shows that many low-income homeowners in Illinois can’t afford essential repairs, leaving families in unsafe living conditions. Fix Our Homes Illinois is fighting to change that by expanding access to Illinois home repair assistance for low income homeowners and protecting funding for programs that keep homes safe, healthy, and strong.
Coalition partners gathered on Dr. King's birthday to explore how senior home repair strengthens local economies, neighborhoods, and family wealth.
Professor Robin Bartram's 2023 op-ed made the case for a statewide home repair program in Illinois. Her call to action helped spark a coalition.
Older Black Chicagoans were twice as likely to be denied home loans as white neighbors, leaving repairs undone and generational wealth at risk.
At a Bronzeville town hall covered by WGN, seniors and advocates launched a statewide push for home repair funding. Watch their stories.
Lower-income homeowners spend 16% of their income on repairs, mostly on essentials. In Illinois, demand for repair help far outstrips supply.
More than thirty homeowners and advocates gathered in Springfield to push for a one-stop senior home repair program. "I'm not going anywhere," one said.