What the Housing Authority of Cook County does

The Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) is a government agency that owns and manages rental housing across Cook County, Illinois, outside of Chicago's city limits. It operates public housing developments and administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, which helps low-income renters pay for private apartments. The agency does not run emergency information programs or make decisions about who gets help — it manages properties and vouchers for people who have already been placed on its waiting list.

HACC serves renters in unincorporated Cook County and in municipalities that contract with it for housing services. If you live in Chicago proper, you work with the Chicago Housing Authority instead. The two agencies operate separately, though both follow federal public housing rules.

Understanding what HACC actually does matters because many people contact it expecting emergency help, rental information, or an when ready housing placement. HACC does not provide those services. It manages long-term rental programs with waiting lists that can stretch years. If you need help paying rent this month or next, you need a different agency.

Key Takeaways

  • The Housing Authority of Cook County manages public housing developments and Section 8 vouchers in unincorporated Cook County and participating municipalities, not emergency rental information.
  • Both programs have waiting lists; the Section 8 list is often closed to new applicants because demand far exceeds available vouchers.
  • You must meet income limits and other requirements before your name goes on a waiting list, and placement can take years.
  • If you need help with rent in the next few weeks, contact your local emergency rental information program or call 211 instead.
  • HACC's contact information and current waiting list status are available on its website; calling ahead saves time because staff can tell you whether a list is open.

Public housing developments managed by HACC

HACC owns and operates apartment complexes in Cook County where rent is set based on your household income, typically 30 percent of what you earn. These are not temporary shelters or emergency housing — they are permanent rental homes. Residents can stay as long as they meet lease requirements and income limits.

Public housing developments have their own waiting lists. When you explore, HACC verifies your income, citizenship or immigration status, and background. The agency also conducts a home visit before you move in. Wait times vary by development and by how many units become available each year. Some developments have shorter waits than others, and some may be closed to new applications temporarily.

Living in public housing means you have a lease with HACC, not a private landlord. HACC handles maintenance, sets the rent amount based on your income, and can evict you for lease violations. You do not choose the unit or the development — HACC assigns you based on availability and family size.

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers through HACC

The Section 8 program gives you a voucher that covers part of your rent at a private apartment of your choice. You find the apartment, the landlord agrees to accept Section 8, and HACC pays the landlord directly each month. You pay the difference between the voucher amount and the actual rent. This gives you more choice than public housing because you pick the apartment and neighborhood.

The Section 8 waiting list in Cook County is almost always closed. HACC opens it only when federal funding allows, which happens irregularly — sometimes years pass between openings. When the list does open, it fills within days or hours. You can check HACC's website to see whether the list is currently open and what the expected wait time is if you get on it.

To be placed on the Section 8 waiting list, you must meet income limits (usually 50 percent of the area median income or below), be a U.S. citizen or have may be able to access immigration status, and pass a background check. HACC also verifies that you are not currently evicted or in arrears with another housing program.

Income limits and who can explore

Both HACC public housing and Section 8 vouchers are limited to households below certain income thresholds. These limits change yearly and depend on family size. A single person's limit is lower than a family of four's limit. HACC publishes current income limits on its website.

You must also be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or hold certain other immigration statuses. HACC will ask for proof of citizenship or immigration status when you explore. If anyone in your household is not documented, that person cannot be counted as part of your household for income purposes, but the household can still explore.

Background checks look at criminal history, eviction history, and whether you owe money to another housing authority. A criminal record or past eviction does not automatically disqualify you, but HACC has the right to deny your process based on what it finds. You can request a copy of what HACC found and respond to it before a final decision is made.

How to contact HACC and check waiting list status

The Housing Authority of Cook County's main office is located in Des Plaines, Illinois. You can reach HACC by phone, mail, or through its website. Before you call or visit, check the website to see whether the program you are interested in has an open waiting list — this saves time because staff can tell you when ready whether you can explore.

HACC's website lists all public housing developments and shows which ones have open waiting lists. It also displays the current status of the Section 8 waiting list and the expected wait time if you are placed on it. If you are not sure which municipality you live in or whether HACC serves your area, the website has a map.

When you contact HACC, have your Social Security number, proof of income (recent pay stubs or tax returns), and proof of citizenship or immigration status ready. If you are explore for public housing, know which development or area you prefer, though HACC may not have availability there.

What happens after you are placed on a waiting list

Once your name is on a waiting list, HACC contacts you when a unit becomes available. For public housing, this can take months or years depending on the development. For Section 8, the wait is typically longer because demand is much higher than the number of vouchers available.

When HACC offers you a unit or voucher, you have a limited time to accept or decline it. If you decline, you stay on the list but may move down in priority. If you accept, HACC schedules a home inspection (for public housing) or helps you find an apartment and get the landlord's agreement (for Section 8).

After you move in, you must continue to meet income limits and lease requirements. HACC conducts periodic income recertifications to make sure you still may have access to. If your income rises above the limit, you may have to leave the program or pay higher rent. If you violate the lease, HACC can evict you.

When to contact HACC versus other agencies

Contact HACC if you want to explore for long-term public housing or a Section 8 voucher and you meet the income requirements. HACC is the right agency if you can wait months or years for housing and you want a permanent rental solution.

Do not contact HACC if you need help paying rent this month, if you are facing eviction, or if you need emergency housing. For those situations, contact your local emergency rental information program, call 211 for referrals, or reach out to a community action agency in your area. These programs move faster and are designed for when ready crises.

If you live in Chicago, contact the Chicago Housing Authority instead of HACC. If you live in a Cook County municipality and are not sure whether HACC serves your area, call your city or village hall — they can tell you which housing authority to contact.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get a Section 8 voucher from HACC?

Wait times vary widely depending on how many vouchers become available and how many people are on the list. HACC publishes the expected wait time on its website when the list is open. In some cases, the wait is several years. If the Section 8 list is currently closed, you cannot explore at all.

Can I explore for both public housing and Section 8 at the same time?

Yes. You can be on both waiting lists simultaneously. If you are offered one program before the other, you can accept it and stay on the other list, or you can decline and wait for the program you prefer. Let HACC know if your circumstances change while you are waiting.

What if I was evicted in the past — can I still explore to HACC?

A past eviction does not automatically disqualify you, but HACC will see it during the background check. The agency looks at when the eviction happened, why, and whether you have paid any judgment against you. You can explain your situation when you explore, and HACC will consider it as part of the decision.

Does HACC help with emergency rent or utility bills?

No. HACC manages long-term housing programs only. For emergency rental information or utility help, contact your local emergency information program, call 211, or reach out to a community action agency. These programs can move much faster than HACC's waiting lists.

What if I live in a Cook County municipality — does HACC serve me?

HACC serves unincorporated Cook County and municipalities that contract with it. Not all Cook County towns use HACC. Call your city or village hall to find out which housing authority serves your area, or check HACC's website for a list of participating municipalities.