Quincy Lands IHDA Grant to Support Low-Income Home Repairs

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced on April 25, 2023, that the City of Quincy is among 36 local governments and nonprofit organizations statewide chosen to administer a new wave of home repair funding for low-income Illinoisans. The grant is part of IHDA's Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP), a $15.3 million statewide initiative designed to help homeowners remain in safe, livable homes they might otherwise struggle to maintain.

What the Program Covers

Through HRAP, eligible homeowners can receive up to $45,000 in assistance to address health, safety, accessibility, and energy-efficiency issues. The funding is structured as a five-year forgivable loan, meaning homeowners who continue to own and occupy the home as their primary residence for that period are not required to repay the assistance.

The program also includes a "roof-only" option that provides up to $21,500 as a three-year forgivable loan for households whose primary need is a roof replacement. Permanently affixed mobile homes are eligible when the homeowner also owns the land underneath.

Who Qualifies

HRAP is targeted at households earning at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income. Applicants must:

• Own and occupy a single-family home as their primary residence
• Be current on their mortgage payments
• Have a documented need for health, safety, accessibility, or energy-efficiency repairs

Why It Matters for Quincy

With the selection of the City of Quincy as a local grantee, Adams County homeowners now have a dedicated local point of contact for applying to the program. IHDA funnels HRAP dollars through approved local partners, who screen applicants, verify eligibility, and manage the rehabilitation work with contractors. This structure is intended to cut red tape for residents and push dollars quickly to the homes that need them most.

Neighboring Macomb was also selected as a grantee, expanding the program's footprint across west-central Illinois. Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials, a regional body serving the Quincy area, has been a separate partner for IHDA's Homeowner Assistance Fund Home Repair Program (HAFHR), a related but distinct effort addressing COVID-era hardship.

Officials Frame It as a Housing-Stability Investment

Announcing the awards, Governor JB Pritzker said, "Every Illinoisan deserves housing that is safe and accessible." IHDA Executive Director Kristin Faust highlighted the program's focus on helping longtime homeowners avoid displacement when the cost of critical repairs outpaces their budgets. City and nonprofit leaders around the state, including Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara, echoed the theme that rehabilitation dollars help preserve existing affordable housing stock rather than requiring new construction.

How Quincy Homeowners Can Apply

Homeowners interested in HRAP assistance should contact the City of Quincy directly or visit IHDA's revitalization programs page for the current list of participating agencies. Because funding and staff capacity are limited, many grantees maintain waiting lists, and not every eligible household will be served in a given round. Applying early, and having income documentation ready, improves the odds of receiving assistance.

For homeowners whose hardship is tied to COVID-19 and who need up to $60,000 in critical repairs, the separate HAFHR program may be an alternate or complementary pathway.