Helping Those Who’ve Been Left Behind: A Closer Look at Illinois Senior Homeowners

In Illinois, nearly 570,000 homeowners aged 62 and older live in one- to four-unit homes and have low incomes, defined as earning at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI). These seniors make up 18.5% of all homeowners in the state, highlighting the critical need for affordable housing solutions. Among this population, a significant 83.2% have lived in their homes for at least 10 years, making them “legacy residents” deeply rooted in their communities.

For younger homeowners between the ages of 55 and 61, the challenges are equally significant. About 17,250 individuals in this age group also face the dual burden of low income and living with a disability, adding further strain to their ability to maintain their homes.

These challenges are magnified in urban centers like Chicago, where over 70% of one- to four-unit properties with senior tax exemptions are located in communities of color (DePaul Institute for Housing Studies, 2023). Black and Latino older homeowners in these areas have less home equity compared to their white counterparts, making it much more difficult for them to fund necessary home repairs or modifications.

This disparity in equity is largely a product of systemic barriers—such as discriminatory lending practices and historical disinvestment—that have made it difficult for Black and Latino communities to accumulate wealth through homeownership. As a result, many older residents are left without the financial resources to age safely in their homes, increasing their risk of displacement or living in unsafe conditions.

SUPPORT OUR LEGISLATION

Stand Up for Our Seniors: Support HB 5170 Today!

Help us protect senior homeowners from losing their homes by endorsing HB 5170, the Senior Home Preservation Program Act. This bill will provide essential funding for home repairs, allowing seniors to age safely in their homes.

Your voice matters! Join us in urging lawmakers to pass this critical bill. By signing your endorsement, you’re taking a stand for dignity, safety, and housing security for Illinois seniors.

Act now to make a difference!

Endorsement Form: HB 5506 Senior Home Preservation Program Act

With HB 5506, More Senior Homeowners Can Age in Place! The Senior Home Preservation Program Act will provide longtime “legacy” low-income older homeowners throughout Illinois with up to $40,000 worth of basic home repairs by qualified home repair specialists. A qualifying household would have lived in their home (single-family or up to 4 units) for at least 10 years; be headed by someone aged 62 and older or 55 and older with a disability; and have an income at or below 80 percent of the area median. This program would be administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services as a grant program to delegate agencies who would effect repairs for free to qualified legacy homeowners that would make their home safe, accessible, comfortable, and up to code.

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Fix Our Homes Illinois is a coalition convened by Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) in Chicago and includes AARP Illinois, Access Living, Chicago Bungalow Association, the DePaul Institute for Housing Studies, Faith 1 Network, Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, Housing Action Illinois, Illinois Aging Together, Illinois Anti-Foreclosure Coalition (IAFC), Light Up Lawndale, Mothers Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE), Center for Health and Social Care Integration at Rush University Medical Center, Southwest Organizing Project, Teamwork Englewood, and the Woodstock Institute.
More information: Gail Schechter, Executive Director, H.O.M.E., GailS@HOMEseniors.org, (773) 295-2711

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I support legislation to create a Senior Home Preservation Program Fund in the State of Illinois. I will demonstrate support by (check all that apply): *

• Endorsing HB 5506, Senior Home Preservation Program
• Joining the Fix Our Homes Illinois campaign
• Speaking with local legislators
• Organizing consumers/ older persons who have been impacted
• Traveling to Springfield to testify or otherwise show support

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• I am endorsing as an individual.

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Why Home Equity Matters

Home equity is often the most significant financial asset for homeowners, especially for older adults living on fixed incomes. However, due to racial disparities in access to homeownership and historical redlining, Black and Latino homeowners tend to have far less home equity than white homeowners. This means that while white seniors can often leverage their home equity to finance repairs or aging-related modifications, many Black and Latino homeowners are unable to do so. This inequity leaves them vulnerable to living in deteriorating conditions or being forced to sell their homes due to an inability to afford necessary repairs.

Addressing the Gaps with the Senior Home Preservation Program (HB5170)

House Bill 5170 (HB5170) is designed to fill this gap by providing grants for low-income seniors to make crucial home repairs and modifications, ensuring that seniors can safely age in place without financial strain. By focusing on legacy homeowners and those with disabilities, the bill aims to ensure that historically marginalized communities, especially Black and Latino homeowners, receive the support they need to maintain their homes. The bill also recognizes that access to such resources is critical in preventing displacement and preserving the cultural fabric of neighborhoods.

In short, HB5170 represents an important step toward addressing the systemic inequities faced by low-income senior homeowners, especially in communities of color. With the proper financial tools in place, Illinois can help ensure that more seniors can stay in their homes, preserving their independence and community ties.

For more information on how HB5170 aims to support these homeowners, you can view the full text of the bill here.

About the Bill

Illinois House Bill 5170 (HB5170) seeks to create the Senior Home Preservation Program which establishes a 3-year pilot program to provide grants to delegate agencies which will provide rehabilitation services to legacy resident low-income senior homeowners to preserve the habitability and safety of their homes. This legislation is part of a broader push by organizations like the Fix Our Homes Illinois coalition to advocate for resources that allow seniors to safely age in place.

The bill, filed on February 5, 2026 by Representative Kevin Olickal, aims to address the growing needs of “legacy resident senior homeowners”—seniors aged 62 or older (or 55 and older with a disability) who have lived in their homes for at least 10 years. It allocates grants for rehabilitation services, including repairs to improve safety, correct health hazards, and bring homes up to housing code standards. Importantly, the bill also considers accessibility improvements for seniors with disabilities.

HB5170 complements ongoing advocacy from Fix Our Homes Illinois, which is fighting for increased public funding for home repairs, especially in historically marginalized communities like Chicago’s South and West Sides, where aging Black homeowners face disproportionate challenges in accessing necessary home maintenance resources

Who This Helps

House Bill 5170 (HB5170) is designed to support low-income senior homeowners who face challenges in maintaining their homes. The bill specifically targets legacy resident senior homeowners, defined as individuals who are 62 years of age or older (or 55 and older with a disability) and have lived in their homes for at least 10 years. These homeowners often struggle with accessing resources for necessary home repairs due to limited income and other barriers.

The bill aims to help seniors living on fixed incomes who cannot afford essential repairs, such as fixing health or safety hazards, updating homes to comply with housing codes, or making homes more accessible. This group includes those in historically marginalized communities, such as Black seniors in Chicago’s South and West Sides, where the aging housing stock often requires more significant repairs.

By providing grants to fund these repairs, HB5170 would allow seniors to age safely in place, preserving their homeownership and contributing to the stability of communities that face high rates of displacement and disinvestment. This bill not only enhances the safety of homes but also addresses racial disparities in housing by providing much-needed resources to minority homeowners who have historically faced challenges in accessing home repair funding.

Eligibility

House Bill 5170 (HB5170) seeks to help legacy resident senior homeowners by providing financial assistance for essential home repairs. The eligibility criteria for this program are specific and designed to reach those who need it the most:

1. Age: Homeowners must be 62 years of age or older. However, those aged 55 and older with a disability are also eligible for the program.
2. Residency: Eligible homeowners must have lived in their home for at least 10 years. This long-term residency requirement ensures that the program supports legacy residents who have been committed to their communities but may face financial challenges in maintaining their homes.
3. Income: Homeowners must be low-income, defined as earning up to 80% of the area median income (AMI). This makes the program accessible to those with limited financial means, particularly seniors living on fixed incomes, such as Social Security benefits or pensions.
4. Homeownership: The program targets owner-occupied homes, meaning that applicants must live in the property they own. This provision ensures that the support goes to individuals who are directly invested in maintaining their primary residence, rather than landlords or property investors.
5. Scope of Repairs: The bill covers minor rehabilitation services, which include repairs that address health and safety hazards, accessibility improvements for seniors with disabilities, and upgrades to meet housing code standards. The program’s funding limit per unit is set at $40,000, which allows for significant but manageable repairs to be made to homes.

These eligibility requirements are designed to ensure that HB5170 provides targeted support to seniors who are at risk of displacement or struggling to maintain safe living conditions due to financial hardship. The bill aims to preserve homeownership and stability for aging residents, particularly in communities of color, where these challenges are often more pronounced.

Timeline

Here’s a timeline of Illinois House Bill 5170 (HB5170), which aims to establish the Senior Home Preservation Program:

At this stage, the bill has not yet progressed beyond the House Rules Committee, but it remains an important legislative effort in addressing the home repair needs of Illinois’ senior homeowners. Advocates, such as those from the Fix Our Homes Illinois coalition, continue to push for its advancement and eventual passage.