Success for joining forces advocacy team: Source of income discrimination and state budget funding

​As you know, the Joining Forces Advocacy Team went down to Springfield this past month to speak with Illinois Senators and Reps about the state budget as well as the source of income discrimination bill. We lobbied for the Members to vote yes on HB 2775, which would make it illegal for landlords to discriminate against renters based on source of income - these protections will help over 99 thousand Illinoisans with housing choice vouchers, and thousands more who rely on disability benefits, SSI, and veterans benefits as their primary income.

On April 8th, HB 2775 successfully passed the House Housing Committee! All 14 Democratic members voted yes. While we expected the Housing Committee vote, we were pleasantly surprised that the bill was called to the full House on the same day. HB2775 passed with 62 yes votes! 

We also advocated for robust funding for affordable housing services. We requested that funds which were proposed to be cut from the budget be reallocated to supportive housing and shelter line items. The final budget included $150 million in American Rescue Pan Act (ARPA) funding for affordable housing from the State of Illinois’ remaining federal fiscal recovery funds – 18.75% of remaining ARPA funds to appropriate and a significant victory for housing advocates across the state.

Joining Forces and all organizations that have fought for this legislation thank all the community leaders, endorsing organizations, staffers, advocates, and colleagues for their support in helping get this bill passed. Because of your phone calls, emails, witness slips, testimony, and lobbying, we were able to get significant legislation passed this assembly.

We are so very proud of all the efforts made on every front. We are also thankful for the legislators who showed their commitment to fair housing by co-sponsoring and voting yes on this bill. We will continue to push for an end to source of income discrimination, including an end to allowing landlords to deny housing to voucher holders based on credit score or other frequently used screening factors.
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More information will be sent in the coming days as we continue to work to get this bill signed by Governor Pritzker! Congratulations everyone and happy Fair Housing Month Illinois!