Illinois Emergency Rental Assistance Programs
Illinois CARES+ Programs:
The final FY21 state budget includes $396 million in COVID-19-related rent and mortgage assistance. The funding comes from the State of Illinois’ portion of the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund and will benefit those impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Subordinate “gap” financing to complete affordable housing development projects is also an allowable use of the funds. The funds, which can be used for costs incurred between March 1 and December 30 of 2020, were appropriated to the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).
The Pritzker Administration, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), has launched a new initiative to help Illinois families access and afford home energy assistance and other essential services during COVID-19. Building on the State’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program, the State’s Fiscal Year 2021 (FY 21) budget authorizes an expansion of the LIHEAP and CSBG programs for eligible Illinoisans seeking emergency assistance to cover costs of utility bills, rent, temporary shelter, food, and other household necessities.
The Quincy Area Partnership for Unmet Needs will be utilized to responsibly respond to the emergency needs of individuals and families in Adams County through a collaborative that utilizes the use of the Adams County Together-ACT funds, grants and other community resources.
The City of Aurora has launched a $500,000 emergency rental assistance program to support Aurora residents who have overdue rent payments because of financial strain caused by COVID-19.
Expanding on a partnership first announced in March of this year, DOH and the Family Independence Initiative (FII) launched a second round of the COVID-19 Housing Assistance Grants to help impacted Chicagoans with rent and mortgage payments. Awardees will receive grants between $2,000 and $3,000 based on COVID-related financial hardship and monthly housing costs for Chicagoans making 60% of the AMI or below. Applications for the DOH Housing Assistance Grants will be accepted through August 10, 2020.
More than $8 million of assistance will be provided through the DFSS Rental Assistance Program (RAP), a homeless prevention initiative aimed at helping residents remain in their existing rental unit by assisting with the payment of rent and rent arrears to prevent eviction. Fifty percent of the funds will be dedicated to households with incomes under 15% of the area median income (AMI) with rental assistance given based on household need. Eligible applicants may receive up to six months of rental support.
The county will implement the Cook County Rental Assistance Program to provide $20M in rental assistance payments for residents of Cook County financially impacted by COVID-19, either for past due payments or upcoming payments. Payments made under this program will be made directly to the landlord.
Aldermen also approved a rent assistance prioritization program. The program will help residents whose 2019 incomes are 80% or less of the area median income and who have lost income due to the ongoing pandemic. More than 200 households could receive assistance.
The Lake County COVID Housing Relief Program (CHRP) provides rent and utility assistance for eligible households financially impacted by COVID-19.
The town of Normal, in partnership with Mid Central Community Action, is offering aid through the COVID-19-Related housing Assistance Program for people experiencing hardships related to housing. The town will use $100,000 of the funding for the housing program. Income-qualified Normal residents may receive assistance for up to two months, or $2,000 total in a single year, for housing costs, rent, mortgage and utility bill payments.
The City of Springfield will distribute around $400,000 in federal relief funding to eligible tenants. To qualify, you must live in the city limits and meet the income guidelines, and show documentation that you have suffered income loss because of the pandemic. The maximum award is $1,000.
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