Illinois pols push for renters to apply for assistance, avoid eviction
Wed. July 14, 2021 3:39 PM by Gerald Farinas
downtown evanston residential building
photo credit // gerald farinas
Deadline to apply for assistance is Sunday, July 18 before midnight
Chicago, IL -
Time is running out for Illinoisans struggling to pay rent. Some facing eviction threats still don't know about the program, Illinois Rental Payment Program, despite an approaching Sunday, July 18 due date.
The application is available at ILRPP.IHDA.ORG.
Some apartment management companies who benefit from the assistance are scrambling to tell their at-risk tenants that they can help them get through the application if they just ask.
Illinois state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-6th) is one of those lawmakers making the push to get as many people who need it, to apply. She sent an email blast for constituents to share.
"The Illinois Rental Payment Program is an emergency rental assistance program designed to support households in Illinois that are unstable due to the COVID-19 pandemic," she explains.
"Neighbors who apply may be eligible for up to 15 months of assistance and a maximum grant amount of $25,000. The grant can cover the past due rent from the previous 12 months and future rental assistance for the next three months, if deemed necessary."
For those whose landlords are not responsive to renters due to their own frustrations with not being allowed to evict tenants during the moratorium, applicants are asked to reach out the Illinois Housing Development Authority anyway. They will find an "alternative pathway to complete the application."
Feigenholtz says there are organizations willing to help tenants apply, like Lakeview Pantry, 3945 N. Sheridan Rd.; CEDA, 567 W. Lake St., Ste. 1200; HANA Center, 4300 N. California Ave.; among others.
The application is available at ILRPP.IHDA.ORG.
Some apartment management companies who benefit from the assistance are scrambling to tell their at-risk tenants that they can help them get through the application if they just ask.
Illinois state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (D-6th) is one of those lawmakers making the push to get as many people who need it, to apply. She sent an email blast for constituents to share.
"The Illinois Rental Payment Program is an emergency rental assistance program designed to support households in Illinois that are unstable due to the COVID-19 pandemic," she explains.
"Neighbors who apply may be eligible for up to 15 months of assistance and a maximum grant amount of $25,000. The grant can cover the past due rent from the previous 12 months and future rental assistance for the next three months, if deemed necessary."
For those whose landlords are not responsive to renters due to their own frustrations with not being allowed to evict tenants during the moratorium, applicants are asked to reach out the Illinois Housing Development Authority anyway. They will find an "alternative pathway to complete the application."
Feigenholtz says there are organizations willing to help tenants apply, like Lakeview Pantry, 3945 N. Sheridan Rd.; CEDA, 567 W. Lake St., Ste. 1200; HANA Center, 4300 N. California Ave.; among others.