housing help is here!

See below for information on the rent, mortgage, utility, and legal assistance programs currently available.

The State of Illinois is providing emergency housing assistance to help renters and homeowners maintain stable, affordable housing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This site is intended to help guide Illinoisans in need of emergency housing assistance due to financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover the emergency assistance programs available to you by multiple state agencies including: the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

Illinois homes receiving Mortgage Assistance in neighborhood

Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF)

The Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund Program provides direct financial assistance to prevent mortgage delinquencies, defaults, displacements, and foreclosures for income-eligible homeowners experiencing pandemic-related hardships.

The state is currently accepting applications for ILHAF assistance. If you have already submitted an application, you may check your status by logging into your ILHAF account here.

Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP)

The Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP) provides funding to Illinois tenants and landlords across the state (outside of Cook County) who have pending cases in eviction court.

Illinois woman reading application details, Rental Assistance

Illinois Rental Assistance Program

Get Help Applying for Rental Assistance

If you need rental assistance but are not in a court proceeding, help is still available through the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). IDHS is accepting applications for up to $25,000 in rental assistance through March 31, 2023. Households who are behind on rent but not yet facing eviction court proceedings should contact an IDHS Service Provider Agency. Provider agencies will help you determine eligibility, walk you through the application process, and help you submit your application. Provider agencies can also help you find assistance with utility bills, free legal aid, and additional services.

Apply for rental assistance and explore additional support by contacting a service provider near you.

Find a Provider

Chicago Illinois Rental Assistance, Homes

free legal aid

legal aid for eviction & foreclosure prevention

Eviction Help Illinois provides renters with free eviction prevention assistance.
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‍For free legal aid to avoid eviction
call (855) 631-0811.
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Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund has partnered with four organizations statewide that each cover a region of Illinois to prevent foreclosures.

Find free legal help for homeowners in your area here.

Pre-Eligibility Check

To be eligible for ILRPP, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

Illinois Resident

You are either a renter in Illinois or a landlord with a tenant who lives in Illinois.

Financial & Unemployment Difficulty

Your household (or your tenant’s household) experienced a financial hardship during or due, directly or indirectly, to the coronavirus pandemic.

Housing Instability

Your household (or your tenants’ household) is behind on rent and/or is at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

Income Limits

Your (or your tenant’s) household income is at or below the limit for your county. Click here to find the income limits for your county.

Need technical help with applying?

Contact a Housing Stability Service Provider Near You

Before you apply, please make sure to review the list of acceptable tenant and landlord documents.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Utility Bill Assistance

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), helps eligible low-income households pay for home energy services (primarily heating during winter months). Illinois residents with a household income that does not exceed an amount determined annually by DCEO are eligible. Annual eligibility levels are determined based on available funding and may not exceed 200% of the federal nonfarm poverty level.

Utility Bill Assistance, Illinois Housing Help

Need help applying for utility bill assistance?

Find the agency nearest to you

Have questions about utility bill assistance?

Call the LIHEAP Hotline at 1-877-411-WARM (9276).

Already applied for utility bill assistance?

Find out the status of your LIHEAP application.

Check the status

ilhousingsearch.org

looking for an affordable home?

For those looking for a new place to call home, ILHousingSearch.org allows you to search thousands of affordable, subsidized and market rate units throughout Illinois. You can customize your search based on your specific needs, budget, and desired location.

The service is also available through a toll-free, bilingual call center at (877) 428-8844.

find your next home

Keys to affordable home search, Illinois

FAQs

Have questions about Illinois rental, mortgage, utility, or eviction prevention legal aid?