CHICAGO- Emphasizing the importance of ending housing discrimination against low-income families who sought to use Housing Choice Vouchers, State Senator Willie Preston hosted a number of his colleagues and stakeholders at a press conference Monday to address the issue.

“The pain of living without a roof over your head is a reality no Illinoisan should endure in 2025. In the 1960s, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Chicago to fight for fair housing, recognizing—then as we do now—that housing is not a privilege but a fundamental human right,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “In Illinois, we will not tolerate those who disregard our laws and exploit our communities

During the press conference, the Housing Rights Initiative discussed the filing of the largest housing discrimination case in Illinois history against 165 real estate agents, brokerage firms, and landlords alleging they illegally discriminated against low-income families who sought to use Housing Choice Vouchers.

In 2022, House Bill 2775 became law, which aimed to make it easier for low-income families to find housing by declaring that it is a civil rights violation for any person engaging in real estate transactions to discriminate based on source of income. The historic filing builds upon that foundation by holding discriminatory real estate companies accountable and sending a message that landlords can’t slam the door in the face of low-income families in Illinois.

“As we gather here at the MLK Memorial—a place steeped in Dr. King's legacy—I want to acknowledge the courageous work of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and the Housing Rights Initiative,” said Neighborhood Housing Services President Anthony Simpkins. “As revealed in this landmark investigation, your leadership and advocacy are vital in holding accountable those who discriminate against Housing Choice Voucher holders.”

Housing voucher holders are disproportionately families, people of color, and people with disabilities. The goal of these filings is to get the real estate companies to stop their discriminatory housing practices that are exacerbating Chicago’s homelessness and affordable housing crisis.

View the full list of alleged violators and screenshots of the discriminatory and illegal conduct.