Affordable housing in the Chicago area

The Chicago area has 18 open affordable housing listings on Fair Shot Housing right now: 8 waitlists and 10 Section 8 or public housing waitlists. Posted rents run from $1,909 to $2,448 a month. The next application deadline is Oct 31, 2026.

See which of these I qualify for Browse all 18 listings

Closing soon in the Chicago area

These have the nearest application deadlines.

Closes in 25 daysFor rent

Stevenson Crossing waiting list (seniors 62+) - Housing Authority of Joliet

Joliet, IL

Waitlist

Rent not posted

1–2 bedrooms

Seniors 62+

OpenFor rent

745 Hope St. inclusionary townhome - 2BR (Deerfield)

Deerfield, IL

Income-restricted rental · Waitlist

$2,148/mo

1 home · 2 bedrooms

OpenFor rent

745 Hope St. inclusionary townhome - 3BR, higher rent (Deerfield)

Deerfield, IL

Income-restricted rental · Waitlist

$2,448/mo

1 home · 3 bedrooms

OpenFor rent

745 Hope St. inclusionary townhome - 3BR, lower rent (Deerfield)

Deerfield, IL

Income-restricted rental · Waitlist

$1,909/mo

1 home · 3 bedrooms

OpenFor rent

Farrelly-Muriello Apartments - Oak Park Housing Authority

Oak Park, IL

Waitlist

Rent not posted

21 homes · Studio–2 bedrooms

OpenFor rent

Berkshire Johnsburg (55+) - project-based voucher waiting list (McHenry County Housing Authority)

Johnsburg, IL

Section 8 building · Waitlist

Rent not posted

1 bedroom

Seniors 55+

Quick facts for the Chicago area

Open listings: 188 waitlists, 10 Section 8 or public housing waitlists
Median starting rent: $2,148 a monthThe middle of the lowest rent posted for each rental that posts one.
Rent range: $1,909 to $2,448 a monthLowest to highest rent posted across rentals.
Income limit, 2 people: $44,150 to $116,700The most a household of 2 can earn a year. Based on the 5 listings that post it.
Online applications: 0 of 18Listings with an online application.
Where applications are posted: mchenrycountyhousing.org, avail.com, oakparkha.orgThe sites most listings here link to.
Next deadline: Oct 31, 20261 listing with a deadline still ahead.
Data last checked: Oct 6, 2026

Every figure is worked out from the open listings above and changes as listings open and close. Each program sets its own income limit, often as a share of the area median income (the middle income in the area), so limits differ from listing to listing.

Apply-direct buildings in the Chicago area

Besides the open listings above, the Chicago area has 1,155 apply-direct buildings. There is no lottery to enter: you call the building (or the local housing office, for public housing) and ask if its waitlist is open. What is an apply-direct building?

341
Section 8 building: 122
Public housing: 628
Tax-credit building: 276
Senior building: 117
Building for people with disabilities

See these buildings by city

We count buildings in the counties that make up the Chicago area. A building can be in more than one group, so the groups add up to more than 1,155. The list comes from HUD, the federal housing department (public housing, Section 8, senior and disability buildings, and tax-credit buildings), downloaded October 5, 2026. It does not say whether a waitlist is open, and some waitlists are closed or years long.

Questions about affordable housing in the Chicago area

What kinds of affordable housing listings are open in the Chicago area?

The Chicago area has 8 waitlists and 10 Section 8 or public housing waitlists open right now. Each listing says whether it is a lottery, a waitlist or first come.

How much does affordable housing cost in the Chicago area?

Only 3 of the 18 rentals in the Chicago area post a rent on their source page; those run from $1,909 to $2,448 a month. Rents in income-restricted rentals are usually set by a program formula tied to the middle income in the area (the area median income) instead of the market, so they are often lower than similar homes nearby.

What income do I need to qualify for affordable housing in the Chicago area?

Among the 5 listings in the Chicago area that post an income limit, the most a household of 2 can earn a year ranges from $44,150 to $116,700. Some programs also set a minimum income, and limits are higher for larger households. Both differ from listing to listing. The free qualify check compares your household with the income limit and rules on each open listing.

Can I apply online for affordable housing in the Chicago area?

None of the 18 open listings in the Chicago area that we track has an online application; they use paper, email or in-person steps. Listings here link to mchenrycountyhousing.org (10 listings), avail.com (3 listings) and oakparkha.org (2 listings). Check each listing for any application fee the program states, and be careful with anyone who asks you to pay to enter a lottery.

When is the next housing deadline in the Chicago area?

The next application deadline in the Chicago area is Oct 31, 2026, and 1 open listing has a deadline still ahead. Listings without a deadline, such as waitlists and first come listings, stay open until the program closes them.

How lotteries, waitlists and first come work

All 18 open listings in the Chicago area

The open listings we have here, with their kind of housing and how you get in. Open one to see its deadline, rent or price, income limits and how to apply.

Keep looking

Fair Shot Housing is not a government agency. Listing details come from public agency sources; always confirm them with the program before you apply.