Do you need affordable housing?
We’re Here to Help!
Northern Illinois Regional Affordable Community Housing (NI ReACH), believes that having a safe, stable home is something everyone deserves. We work with local, state, and federal organizations to provide homes and supportive services to the families and communities we serve.
NI ReACH administers programs for both Winnebago County Housing Authority and Boone County Housing Authority.
Step 1
Review Housing Options
NI ReACH (Northern Illinois Regional Affordable Community Housing) has several housing options available, so finding one that fits your family’s needs is step one. Learn about each of our programs and their basic eligibility requirements.
Step 2
Apply for Housing
We know that applying for housing can be stressful, but we are here to help. To start the process, complete our pre-application. After 10 business days, you’ll be assigned a wait list number to track your application.
WHAT YOU NEED:
- Names, birthdates, and Social Security numbers of all members of your household
- Income information
Step 3
Check Your Status
Your number on the wait list is affected by your needs, the needs of others in the community, and the availability of housing. Once your application is processed, you’ll be able to log in to track your status on the wait list.
WHAT YOU NEED:
- Last Name
- Last four digits of your Social Security number
Why is Affordable Housing Important?
A safe, stable home in a supportive community offers more than a place to live – it inspires hope and achievement. With affordable housing, families can thrive and focus on their futures. It reduces unimaginable stress, which improves physical and mental health. Through our housing and other support programs, residents achieve more in school and jobs, develop a sense of pride, and find a sense of belonging and community.
Safety
Stability
Supportive
Hopeful
Thriving
Pride
Featured Communities
We maintain extremely high standards for our communities with the goal of redefining perceptions about affordable housing. Here are just a few!
D’Agnolo Garden Apartments in Rockton, IL features lovely 1-bedroom unites on acres of park within a couple miles of banks, stores, restaurants and pharmacies.
Located at 1050 West Galena Avenue in Freeport, the Brewster Apartments have 64 1-bedroom apartments.
The Champion Park Homes are located within the Washington Park Neighborhood just five blocks from the NI ReACH Central office and a couple of miles off Bypass 20 for fast transportation throughout the community.
About NIReACH
At Northern Illinois ReACH, we create vibrant neighborhoods, fight blight in our communities, and address the negative impacts of poverty. While we are known for our housing programs, we actively develop and participate in initiatives to support growth and learning toward self-sufficiency for our residents and others. We’ve earned a reputation for innovation and are often looked to as leaders in affordable housing.
Lets get social!
We were very sad to learn of the passing of Pat Ambrose on June 3, 2021.
In 2015, Rockford Home Depot District Captain Chad Forrester put together a partnership with Pat who was the Rockford Veteran's Center Executive Director, and our housing agency. Together we acquired and rehabbed an abandoned house at 1539 South Fourth Street, which was then donated to the Rockford Veteran's Drop-In Center for their new home to serve Veterans. Pat was very passionate in her work to help Veterans, and we were so fortunate to know her and her care for the community. Pat's care touched many lives, and she will be missed for a long time.
www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/rrstar/name/patricia-ambrose-obituary?pid=199152586
I am in need of safe and affordable housing!
Northern Illinois ReACH (also known as Winnebago County Housing Authority),
along with Northwest Community Center and The Workforce Connection, will host a HUD Strong Families event!
The focus of this event will be on Health, Education, and Economic Empowerment.
When: Saturday, June 26, 2021
Where: Northwest Community Center
1325 N. Johnston Ave.
Time: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Job Fair: 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Resource & Community Fair: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
This event will offer a wide variety of resources to families in the community and will include food, fun, music, and family entertainment.
• LIHEAP Pre-applications • Fire Truck Demo
• COVID-19 Vaccines • Police Canine Unit Demo
• Face Painting • Much, much more!
For more information, please contact:
Kim Haley at 815-315-2125 (khaley@nireach.org) OR Scott Lewis at 815-315-7340 (slewis@nireach.org)
Today's ChemTool fire was a couple of blocks north of our D'Agnolo Apartments.
The residents were safely evacuated. We very much appreciate all the help from the Rockton Fire and Police Departments for their evacuation. We appreciate the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Dominos and Pizza Hut for the food and shelter at the evacuation center. We appreciate the wonderful care of Manager Jilly Graciana and her husband Jason, and Assistant Manager Lucia Hardin for their care and great work evacuating the residents. And we appreciate the help of all the residents to work with us and to help with the evacuation of their neighbors. We hope all our neighbors in the community and all the responders are safe tonight.
News and Events
Housing Choice Voucher Project-Based Funding Assistance Winnebago County Housing Authority 3617 Delaware Street Rockford, Illinois 61101 The Winnebago Housing Authority (WCHA) (dba NI ReACH) is issuing a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) from experienced rental housing providers to receive Project-Based assistance for rehabilitation and/or new construction. The housing must be located within Winnebago and Stephenson […]
April 13, 2021 NI ReACH will be holding a Public Hearing at 10:00 am on May 19th, 2021 on Zoom to discuss our proposed Moving to Work Plan, which will be transmitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in June 2021. The proposed MTW plan focuses on incentivizing landlords to participate in […]
In June, 2021, NI ReACH will apply for Moving to Work (MTW) designation from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). MTW designation permits the organization to test innovative solutions for improving housing programs and services. NI ReACH has put together a plan which describes our proposal to participate in MTW Cohort #4, which […]
Champion Park Homes represented NI ReACH’s first mixed-finance program for Winnebago County Housing Authority. Through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) sponsored by the Winnebago Homes Association (the organization’s nonprofit development arm), the $40 million deal tore down the 75 homes and rebuilt 104 new homes along with new roads, drainage, city water, street […]
