March 10 Day of Action: Protect Affordable Housing!

March 10 marks a National Day of Action to Protect Affordable Housing. Housing is more than shelter—it’s the foundation for stability and opportunity for families, seniors, veterans, individuals with disabilities and those experiencing homelessness or housing instability. With funding freezes, program cuts and staffing reductions at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) threatening millions, the future of affordable housing is at risk.

As the third largest public housing agency in the country, even a short pause in funding could significantly harm the 135,000 low-income families we serve across all 77 of Chicago's community areas. Public housing authorities, including CHA, already do not receive enough federal funding to meet the demand for affordable housing, even as the need continues 
to grow.

Now is the time to raise our voices.

That’s why today, March 10, CHA is joining Moving to Work (MTW) agencies across the country for this National Day of Action to Protect HUD and Affordable Homes.

Together, we are advocating for the future of affordable housing development, investment in individual self-sufficiency and aiding economic independence for low-to-moderate income workers and families, seniors, individuals with disabilities and veterans, as well as individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability.

We need your voice to protect affordable housing and stand up for those who rely on it!

How You Can Help:

• Call your representatives: Urge them to stop reckless HUD budget and staffing cuts! Here is information about how to contact your representatives.
• Share your story: Use #AffordableHousing and #HandsOffHousing when posting on social media. Tag @HUDgov to spread awareness.
• Host a local event: Engage your community, local officials and media to amplify the message.
• Sign the national letter: Add your voice to nearly 800 organizations fighting for HUD funding at https://nlihc.quorum.us/campaign/111236/.

While uncertainty remains about the full impact of the latest federal administrative actions on HUD, CHA remains committed to working closely with HUD and other partners to protect the well-being of our residents.

Stable funding has already transformed lives. Here are a few examples of the real impact affordable housing has on hardworking individuals and families:

CHA Resident Spotlights: The Positive Impact of Stable Funding

• Joe Ann Wilson (via CBS News)
  • "Chicago Housing Authority program saves woman, 73, from homelessness”
• Thomas King
  • Thomas King is a participant in the CHA’s HCV Health and Wellness Program, which offers support to participants who are experiencing life stressors that place them at risk of housing instability or other situations that create difficulties in their daily lives. He credits the program for getting his life back on track.
• Daijah Pierce
  • In 2023, CHA resident Daijah Pierce graduated from the biomedical engineering program at Kenwood Academy and was a sophomore neuroscience major studying behavioral psychology at University of Illinois-Chicago. She also battles lupus daily and aspires to be the first doctor in her family.
• Jose Serrano
  • In 1989, Jose Serrano was desperate. He was recently married and had two young daughters. He had a manufacturing job but wasn’t making ends meet. He needed a lifeline. He got one in the form of the Chicago Housing Authority, first with a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), and then as a participant of the Choose To Own (CTO) program, where CHA residents can use their portion of the rent for a mortgage. Today, Serrano is years removed from a public housing subsidy, having transitioned off the program and embarked on a successful property management career. And his daughters are reaping the benefits.