House & Apartment

Homelessness means not having a safe, stable place to live. In Illinois, you're considered homeless if you don’t have a regular place to sleep at night. This can include:

• Staying in a shelter or halfway house,
• Sleeping somewhere not meant for living, like a car or park, and
• Temporarily staying with friends or relatives because you have nowhere else to go.

If you don’t have a permanent, safe place to sleep, you may qualify for help.

Note: A July 24, 2025, federal executive order changed how some future homelessness services funding may be awarded. States and cities that focus on clearing encampments, using law enforcement, or requiring treatment before housing may receive priority for new federal funding. It's unclear how this will affect services for Illinois residents. If you need help, don't wait.

Being at risk of homelessness

You may be at risk if:

• You're behind on rent or utilities,
• You're staying with friends or relatives but may be asked to leave,
• You got an eviction notice,
• Your housing is unsafe or unlivable,
• You're leaving jail, a hospital, or a program without a place to go, or
• You're fleeing an abusive relationship.

Risky housing agreements

Whenever possible, use an assistance program to find shelter or try to find a money-based rental arrangement that works for you.

Oral (spoken) leases are legal in Illinois, and the landlord must give notice that the agreement is ending. They tend to be month-to-month arrangements. A standard oral lease includes paying rent. If you have an oral lease and are at risk of eviction, contact Eviction Help Illinois unless you're in Cook County. In Cook County, reach out to Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt.

Be very careful if you're offered a place to stay without paying rent in exchange for property work, maintaining a remote cabin, illegal activities, or personal favors. These situations can be dangerous, depending on the landlord and what they expect from you. Avoid going to remote locations to seek shelter with private individuals without letting people know where you are and having a way to get help.

Living in unstable housing isn't a crime. If the person you're staying with is abusive or violent, seek help as soon as you can do so safely. Call 911 in emergencies. If you suspect human trafficking is involved, you can reach out to the National Human Trafficking Hotline by phone at 1-888-373-7888 or text at 233733.

Even if a barter-for-rent situation is legitimate, the landlord may disagree with you about the value of your work. Whenever possible, use an assistance program to find shelter or try to find a money-based rental arrangement that works for you and get the terms in writing.

Illinois resources 

Affordable housing, especially if you have pets, can be very hard to find on short notice. If you're homeless or at risk, there are programs in Illinois that can help. These include:

• Emergency shelters,
• Temporary housing,
• Help with rent, food, and basic needs,
• Legal help and advocacy, and
• Youth housing services.

You can:

• Call 2-1-1 anywhere in Illinois for housing help,
• In Chicago, call 3-1-1 and ask for shelter or homeless prevention,
• Learn more at the Illinois DHS Homeless Services page or call 1-800-843-6154, or
• Contact Chicago Coalition for the Homeless for legal help, outreach, and support.

Home Illinois program

Home Illinois is a statewide program that supports people experiencing homelessness. Services include:

• Emergency shelter
• Transitional housing
• Rapid rehousing (short-term rental assistance)

You may qualify if you're living in a shelter, vehicle, or unsafe place, or if you don’t have a stable home. You don’t need to pay anything up front to apply.

To get help, visit the DHS Homeless Services page or call 1-800-843-6154.

Help from the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless

The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) helps people in Chicago who are homeless or struggling with housing. They offer:

• Legal help for youth and families in school,
• Help getting into shelters or transitional housing,
• Support if you were denied services you qualify for,
• Outreach to people living in cars or on the street, and
• Advocacy for stronger housing protections.

CCH also runs a mobile legal aid clinic that visits shelters and schools. Call 1-800-940-1119 or visit chicagohomeless.org.

Youth homelessness resources

If you're under 18 and don’t have a safe place to live, there are programs that can help. You may qualify for transitional housing if you:

• Are 16 or 17 years old,
• Aren’t living with a parent or guardian,
• Don’t have a stable place to stay, and
• Want help with housing and support services.

Youth housing programs may offer:

• Shelter,
• Life skills training,
• Help with jobs, school, or public benefits, and
• Case management and basic needs support.

To find help:

• Chicago: Contact The Night Ministry Youth Outreach Team at (773) 784-9000
• Statewide: Use the DHS Provider Search Tool and filter by “Youth Services – Transitional Living Program”
• In crisis: Call the National Runaway Safeline at 1-800-RUNAWAY (1-800-786-2929)

Learn more about school rights in our guide: Do homeless kids have the right to education?

Additional resources

The CityKey ID card helps residents in Chicago access city services, even without a traditional ID. It’s helpful for people who lack housing. As of June 2025, you must apply in person due to federal data requests.

TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) provides cash assistance to pregnant women and families with children. The money can help cover:

• Food,
• Shelter,
• Utilities, and
• Clothing and other basics.