The Aurora Housing Authority is a municipal government with jurisdiction that coincides with the corporate city limits of Aurora, Illinois that is dedicated to providing housing assistance to those in need. The primary focus of the Aurora Housing Authority is to provide and maintain quality, affordable housing within a safe, stable environment while promoting educational, employment, economic development and self sufficiency programs and initiatives for our residents.

The Aurora Land Clearance Commission was first chartered in 1949 by the State of Illinois. The original name described the primary intent of the agency at that time which was to clear urban slums and create affordable housing for families in Aurora. The City of Aurora appointed the first five member Board of Commissioners for the agency in the late 1960's, which is when construction began on the first public housing units in Aurora. The name of the Aurora Land Clearance Commission was changed to the Aurora Housing Authority in 1987 to more accurately reflect the purpose and mission of the agency.

The first public housing in Aurora was completed in 1970. This housing consisted of two four-story buildings with 208 zero and one bedroom units designed for elderly residents. The name of the building was Maple Terrace. Maple Terrace was downsized to 188 units in 1995.

The second public housing site was completed in late 1970. This was a family site located on the west side of Aurora with 146 total units in 28 buildings. This site consisted of two through six bedroom units and was named Westwood. The Westwood site is now called Jerico Circle.

The third public housing development completed was Project 90-4, which was made up of three different site locations on the east side of Aurora. These sites were made up of row houses or townhouse type units and had two through five bedroom units. The names were Eastwood (58 units), Southwind (34 units), and Indian Trail (36 units).

The fourth development was completed in 1976 and was appropriately named Centennial House. Centennial House and the Annex completd in 1977, consists of two separate buildings designed for elderly and disabled persons. Centennial House has 81 one bedroom units and the Annex has 46 one bedroom units.

In 1982, the Aurora Housing Authority appplied for funding to develop scattered site housing. Scattered site housing differs in both the physical design and concept from project based housing. This approach uses many smaller properties located in different neighborhoods rather than a concentrated group of units, which is why it is referred to as scattered housing.

The scattered sites are broken down as follows, 37 single family sites, 7 duplexes, one four-plex, and one eight-plex.

The Aurora Housing Authority currently owns and manages 652 units, of which 7 are deprogrammed for management or resident uses.