Illinois Mortgage Assistance Deadline October 31: Act Now

Illinois homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage, property taxes, insurance, or homeowner/condo association fees have until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 to apply for relief through the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF). After that cutoff the portal closes, and remaining federal funds will be committed to applications already in the queue.

ILHAF is administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and funded by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Homeowner Assistance Fund, established under the American Rescue Plan Act. Since it launched in April 2022, the program has delivered more than $246 million to roughly 13,730 Illinois households, with an average grant of about $17,988.

How much is available

Eligible households can receive up to $60,000 in total assistance, non-repayable and paid directly to the mortgage servicer, taxing body, insurance carrier, or association. Homeowners who received help in the first round of ILHAF are allowed to reapply, as long as their combined awards stay under the $60,000 cap.

What ILHAF can pay for

• Past-due (reinstatement) mortgage payments, including amounts that came due during or after a COVID-related forbearance
• Delinquent property taxes
• Unpaid homeowner's insurance and flood insurance premiums
• Past-due homeowner association or condominium association fees
• Mobile home loan payments and mobile home lot rent

Who qualifies

To be eligible, a homeowner generally must:

• Own and occupy the property as their primary residence in Illinois
• Be at least 30 days past due on mortgage, property taxes, insurance, or HOA fees
• Have a household income at or below 150% of their county's Area Median Income
• Have experienced a financial hardship on or after January 21, 2020, that is connected to the COVID-19 pandemic

Proof of U.S. citizenship is not required, and there is no cost to apply.

How to apply before the deadline

• Apply online at illinoishousinghelp.org or through the ILHAF portal at ilhaf.ihda.org
• Call 866-454-3571 for free application help, available in more than 37 languages
• Gather mortgage statements, a recent property tax bill, proof of income, and a government-issued ID before starting the application to avoid delays

Because ILHAF funds are limited and the program is ending, applications that are complete and submitted well before the October 31 deadline have the best chance of review. Homeowners who are already in foreclosure should also notify their servicer that an ILHAF application is pending, since the program can trigger a pause on foreclosure activity while the file is evaluated.

After October 31, 2023, IHDA has indicated ILHAF will stop taking new applications. Illinois homeowners who miss the deadline should contact a HUD-approved housing counselor for other workout, modification, or state-level options.