Illinois Residents Can Apply for up to $30,000 in Housing Assistance
Starting April 11, Illinois homeowners can apply for up to $30,000.00 in assistance through the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF). The $309 million fund, launched by Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), would assist homeowners with past-due mortgage payments, property taxes, property insurance, and unpaid homeowner and/or condo association fees.
“With the support of Governor Pritzker, IHDA has delivered emergency housing payments on behalf of 120,000 Illinois renters and homeowners since the pandemic began, and the ILHAF program will build on these efforts to provide much-needed relief to households who need it most,” IHDA Executive Director Kristin Faust said.
This program provides direct financial assistance to prevent mortgage delinquencies, defaults, displacements, delinquent homeowners/condominium/co-op association fees, delinquent homeowner’s insurance and/or flood insurance, delinquent mobile home lot rent, and foreclosures for income-eligible homeowners experiencing pandemic-related hardships. Assistance will be paid directly to the mortgagor’s loan servicer, taxing body, or other approved entity on behalf of the homeowner. To qualify for ILHAF assistance, Illinois homeowners must have experienced a financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic after Jan. 21, 2020 (including a hardship that began before Jan. 21, 2020, but continued after that date). They also must currently own and occupy their home in Illinois as their primary residence, be at least 30 days late on their monthly housing payments, and have a household income at or below 150% of the area median income.
For many Southern Illinois counties, United Way of South Central Illinois is serving as a Housing Stability Service provider for the ILHAF. To apply for the ILHAF, homeowners in Washington, Marion, Clinton, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton, Wayne, White, Edwards, and Wabash counties should visit Navicore Solutions, a HUD-approved housing counseling service. Call 866-472-4557 to schedule an appointment with Navicore Solutions. When applying, you must show proof of identification, proof of household income, proof of occupancy, and proof of ownership. It should also include a delinquency statement, including but not limited to a mortgage statement, property tax statement, insurance statement, or HOA/Condo Association statement.
Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on May 31. Visit www.illinoishousinghelp.org for more information.