A state-funded, court-based rental assistance program could help tenants facing eviction as well as landlords struggling with unpaid rent.
The initiative, which launched Friday, replaces a previous program that provided relief to over 10,500 households before running out of money earlier this year, the Chicago Tribune reported. In response, Illinois allocated $75 million in state funds to continue the program into fiscal year 2025, marking a significant investment after federal Covid-19 relief funds ran out, a move that many other states and municipalities haven’t matched.
Eligible households can receive up to $15,000 in assistance to cover past-due rent, up to $500 in court costs and as much as two months of future rent. To qualify, tenants must have an active eviction case due to nonpayment of rent and earn 80 percent or less of the area median income. In Chicago, the AMI for a household of four is $89,700, according to the Chicago Department of Housing.
The program benefits landlords and tenants by keeping people housed and allowing property owners to recoup losses, said real estate attorney Michael Zink, who represents small landlords. Zink hopes the state will continue to fund the program annually, as it stabilizes housing for many Illinois residents.
Tenants are not required to demonstrate that their hardship is related to Covid-19, unlike some previous programs, and citizenship status does not affect eligibility. This expanded accessibility is meant to help ensure a larger number of residents can benefit from the program’s protections.
Housing providers cannot evict tenants receiving the grant. The initiative is part of the state’s broader eviction diversion strategy, known as the Early Resolution Program, which provides financial assistance and legal aid to help tenants and landlords reach settlements before going to court.
For tenants whose landlords choose not to participate, the program offers up to two months of future rent payments to help them find new housing. Renters in Chicago and Cook County also retain the right to stay in their homes if they pay their debts in full before an eviction order is finalized.
As one of the legal aid groups that is a part of the eviction diversion program, Michelle Gilbert, legal and policy director at the Law Center for Better Housing, had been monitoring the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s website for updates. On Friday, her wait finally came to an end when she saw the program had begun accepting applications again.
With an ambitious goal to assist 8,900 households, the IHDA had already received 260 applications for the program as of Monday.
— Andrew Terrell
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