Welcome to the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus

Guzmán champions human rights protections for tenants who are survivors of gender based violence

SPRINGFIELD – In the fight for affordable housing for all people in Illinois, State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s bill to provide human rights protections to prospective tenants who are survivors of gender-based violence passed the Senate Executive Committee.

“When we talk about housing, we are not just talking about buildings or leases,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “We are talking about safety. We are talking about dignity. We are talking about whether people have a real chance to rebuild their lives.”

Senate Bill 330 would provide that it is a civil rights violation to unlawfully discriminate against a prospective tenant because of a person's history of experiencing domestic or sexual violence. According to Illinois Legal Aid, people who have survived domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault might also face barriers to their housing because of these abuses. People who rent their homes are three times more likely to face violence than people who own their homes.

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Faraci celebrates groundbreaking on Champaign-Urbana inclusive recreation area

CHAMPAIGN - State Senator Paul Faraci highlighted the start of construction on a new inclusive special recreation area that will serve people of all abilities – funded in part with a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources that Faraci strongly supported.

“Open Space and Land Acquisition Development funding is essential not only for improving our communities’ local infrastructure, but also for ensuring residents have access to reliable outdoor recreation areas,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “I am proud to support the OSLAD program to continue securing state funding for projects in East Central Illinois, providing our community members with accessible, safe green spaces for families with a range of needs to enjoy.”

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Villivalam leads measure to ensure affordable, accessible housing for Illinoisans

SPRINGFIELD ─ State Senator Ram Villivalam is spearheading a measure through the Senate aimed at ensuring accessible, affordable housing in Illinois.

“Since 2024, cost of living has continued to rise, and now the Trump administration is continuing to make it harder for working families to access quality, affordable housing in their own neighborhoods,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “With residents potentially facing additional federal requirements to secure adequate housing, we must act now to ensure all Illinoisans have housing options within reach.”

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Feigenholtz spearheads Faith-Based Housing and Mixed-Use by Right Act

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is leading a transformative proposal that aims to give faith-based organizations the tools to revitalize and redevelop closed and underutilized houses of worship into affordable residential housing.

“Many religious institutions already serve vulnerable populations through programs and outreach services,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “Extending these services to include permanent or supportive housing is a natural progression of their mission.”

Read more: Feigenholtz spearheads Faith-Based Housing and Mixed-Use by Right Act