I am homeless and need housing.

The Coordinated Entry System (CES) connects people who are experiencing homelessness to affordable and subsidized housing opportunities in Chicago. Anyone experiencing homelessness can complete a housing assessment by going to an In Person Access Point or calling the Phone Access Point at (312) 971-4178. For their locations and hours of operation, please visit their website. 

The housing assessment determines where you will be on the waitlist based on your individual or families’ specific circumstances. Please note that this may or may not lead to a housing option and will not solve your immediate housing need. 

The Chicago Housing Authority provides permanent housing for low and very low-income families and is funded by the federal government. CHA programs provide subsidized rent that is proportional to a participant’s income. CHA housing programs include Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing, and other project-based housing. The waiting time for CHA housing programs can range from months to years. Please contact the Chicago Housing Authority once every 2 months to keep your contact information up-to-date and to remain on the waitlist. Confirm with CHA if there is any additional required documentation for your application.  

Housing for suburban Cook County

The Housing Authority of Cook County is the second largest public housing authority in Illinois.. Like CHA, HACC provides permanent subsidized housing for low and very-low income families through Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing, and other project-based housing. Once you have submitted an application, please contact HACC every 2 months to keep your information up-to-date and remain on the waitlist. Please note that for HACC project-based property applications, you may have to submit a separate application to each project-based property.  

Project-Based Section 8, also called “multifamily housing,” is project-based subsidized housing for low and very low-income families. Project-Based Section 8 buildings are owned and operated by private owners and are funded by the federal government. To apply for Project-Based Section 8 buildings, you must submit a separate application to each building that you are interested in.