Illinois tenants behind on rent payments are eligible for up to $25,000 in financial assistance
Illustration by Catherine Buchaniec
Tenants behind on rent payments in the past year due to COVID-19 are now eligible for up to $25,000 of financial assistance per the Illinois Rental Payment Program.
May 19, 2021
The Illinois Rental Payment Program opened Monday to provide financial relief to residents behind on rent payments due to COVID-19-related losses or reductions in income, as well as those experiencing increased expenses.
The program will cover up to 12 months of missed rent payments and up to 3 months of future rent payments, providing a maximum of 15 months of financial relief or $25,000 in federal funding, according to a Monday news release.
At a Monday press conference, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the $1.5 billion rental relief program serves as a gradual transition ahead of the end of the statewide eviction moratorium, which is slated to expire in August.
To be eligible for the grant, tenants must rent their primary home and live in Illinois, be behind on rent for at least 30 days and have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19. A household’s total gross income cannot exceed 80 percent of its area’s median household income, and the individual must be at risk of homelessness or housing instability.
Landlords can apply through the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s website until June 7. If accepted into the program, landlords will receive the grant money.
The city is also working with the Center for Neighborhood Technology to receive feedback from landlords who own buildings that serve low-to-moderate income tenants. The center aims to renovate housing with environmental sustainability and affordability.
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