Public housing in Illinois
Data from November 2026
Public housing agencies in Illinois
106 public housing agencies administer 119,220 Section 8 vouchers and 45,629 public housing units in Illinois. Each one takes applications and runs its own waiting list.
Key numbers in Illinois
- Agencies
- 106
- take applications and keep their own waiting lists
- Section 8 vouchers
- 119,220
- total they manage, not openings
- Public housing units
- 45,629
- total they manage, not openings
How it works
How they work
There are two main kinds of help: the voucher to rent in the private market and public housing. You apply for both at the agency for your area in Illinois.
- Step 1
Section 8 (Housing Choice Vouchers)
The family finds a home on the private market. The agency pays part of the rent directly to the landlord and the family pays the difference.
- Step 2
Public housing
Homes the agency itself manages. Rent is set from the family’s income.
- Step 3
How to apply
Apply at the agency for your area. They check income and family size, and may close their waiting list when it is full: ask whether it is open and how long it takes.
According to HUD: Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)· HUD: public housing program
Mixed-status families Section 8 and mixed-status families: how it works How the Section 8 voucher works, how aid is prorated in a mixed-status family, how to apply through your housing agency and what HUD proposed. Read the guideHUD’s list
Every agency in Illinois
Largest first. Search by name or county.
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Chicago Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Cook County
61,032 vouchers · 19,175 public housing units
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Housing Authority Cook County
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Cook County
14,142 vouchers · 276 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of Lake, IL.
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Lake County
3,287 vouchers · 403 public housing units
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Rockford Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Winnebago County
2,368 vouchers · 1,136 public housing units
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St. Clair County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · St. Clair County
2,695 vouchers · 796 public housing units
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Housing Authority of Joliet
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Will County
2,797 vouchers · 425 public housing units
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Springfield Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Sangamon County
2,463 vouchers · 740 public housing units
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Peoria Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Peoria County
2,153 vouchers · 715 public housing units
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Housing Authority of Champaign County
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Champaign County
2,435 vouchers
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Decatur Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Macon County
1,249 vouchers · 949 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of Aurora
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Kane County
1,499 vouchers · 437 public housing units
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Madison County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Madison County
1,223 vouchers · 561 public housing units
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The Housing Authority of City of East St. Louis
Public housing · St. Clair County
1,723 public housing units
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Housing Authority for LaSalle County
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · LaSalle County
653 vouchers · 922 public housing units
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The Housing Authority Of The City Of Danville, IL
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Vermilion County
965 vouchers · 503 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of Jackson, IL.
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Jackson County
661 vouchers · 752 public housing units
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Winnebago County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Winnebago County
993 vouchers · 297 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of Waukegan
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Lake County
1,254 vouchers · 25 public housing units
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Kankakee County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Kankakee County
871 vouchers · 274 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of Bloomington, IL
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · McLean County
467 vouchers · 606 public housing units
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Menard County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Menard County
1,036 vouchers
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McHenry County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · McHenry County
1,001 vouchers · 22 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of Williamson
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Williamson County
167 vouchers · 724 public housing units
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Housing Authority Of The County Of DeKalb
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · DeKalb County
606 vouchers · 278 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of Rock Island
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Rock Island County
580 vouchers · 278 public housing units
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Grtr Metro. Area Hsng Auth of Rock Island County
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Rock Island County
591 vouchers · 247 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of Franklin
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Franklin County
65 vouchers · 684 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the Village of Oak Park
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Cook County
546 vouchers · 198 public housing units
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Moline Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Rock Island County
246 vouchers · 486 public housing units
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Housing Authority of Marion County
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Marion County
282 vouchers · 445 public housing units
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Knox County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Knox County
285 vouchers · 424 public housing units
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Quincy Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Adams County
349 vouchers · 350 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of North Chicago, IL
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Lake County
546 vouchers · 149 public housing units
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The Housing Authority of Henry County
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Henry County
189 vouchers · 449 public housing units
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Housing Authority - County of Saline
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Saline County
133 vouchers · 477 public housing units
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Whiteside County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Whiteside County
299 vouchers · 265 public housing units
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Morgan County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Morgan County
195 vouchers · 354 public housing units
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Fulton County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Fulton County
264 vouchers · 284 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of Marion, Illinois
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Williamson County
156 vouchers · 328 public housing units
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Housing Authority of Jefferson County
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Jefferson County
99 vouchers · 310 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of McDonough
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · McDonough County
125 vouchers · 278 public housing units
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Housing Authority of Christian County, Illinois
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Christian County
377 vouchers
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Warren County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Warren County
104 vouchers · 272 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of Jersey
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Jersey County
199 vouchers · 146 public housing units
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Bureau County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Bureau County
75 vouchers · 249 public housing units
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Woodford County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Woodford County
244 vouchers · 64 public housing units
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Ogle County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Ogle County
157 vouchers · 130 public housing units
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Housing Authority Of The County of Wayne, Illinois
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Wayne County
73 vouchers · 212 public housing units
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Housing Authority of Edgar County
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Edgar County
79 vouchers · 200 public housing units
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Randolph County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Randolph County
54 vouchers · 218 public housing units
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Logan County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Logan County
62 vouchers · 193 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of Shelby, IL.
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Shelby County
122 vouchers · 132 public housing units
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Lee County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Lee County
42 vouchers · 207 public housing units
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Montgomery County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Montgomery County
93 vouchers · 148 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of Richland
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Richland County
125 vouchers · 75 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the City of Freeport
Public housing · Stephenson County
178 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of Lawrence, IL.
Public housing · Lawrence County
171 public housing units
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Housing Authority Of The County Of Wabash, IL.
Public housing · Wabash County
156 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of JoDaviess
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Jo Daviess County
49 vouchers · 104 public housing units
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Mercer County Housing Authority
Public housing and Section 8 vouchers · Mercer County
38 vouchers · 60 public housing units
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Housing Authority of the County of Cumberland, IL.
Public housing · Cumberland County
92 public housing units
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The Housing Authority of the County of Cass IL.
Public housing · Cass County
50 public housing units
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None match your search.
HUD’s official list exactly as published, retrieved November 6, 2026. Vouchers and units are totals each agency administers, not vacancies. Source: Public Housing Agencies (HUD) Retrieved November 6, 2026 Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (external site)
Frequently asked questions
What is a Section 8 voucher?
A Housing Choice Voucher from HUD’s federal program: the family rents on the private market and the housing agency pays part of the rent to the landlord. The family pays the difference.
How do I apply for a voucher or public housing in Illinois?
At the housing agency for your area; Illinois has 106. Each one has its own application and waiting list, and may close it when it is full. Call or check its site to see whether it is open.
How many Section 8 vouchers are there in Illinois?
The agencies in Illinois administer 119,220 Section 8 vouchers and 45,629 public housing units, according to HUD’s list retrieved November 6, 2026. They are program totals, not available vacancies.