Help Paying Rent, Utility Bills Available In Suburban Cook County

COOK COUNTY, IL — Rental assistance is available for qualifying residents of suburban Cook County. Applications are open through April 2 for the Cook County Emergency Rental Assistance program, which pays up to 12 months of missed rent and utilities payments and up to three months of future rent payments.

To qualify for the program, suburban renters must have proof of financial hardship from the pandemic and must not receive federal housing assistance or have received other rental assistance during the same time period.

Financial hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic includes working fewer hours or being furloughed, lost work due to caring for a child or quitting a job due to the risks of the coronavirus.

To qualify, renters must also have an annual household income below $51,000 for a one-person household, $58,250 for a household of two, $65,550 for a three-person household, $72,800 for a households of four people, all the way up to $96,100 for households consisting of eight or more people.

Once the application window closes, county officials plan to randomly select from eligible applicants, while also giving preference to households that include someone who has been unemployed for the past three months or who has even lower household annual income.

Payments are made directly to landlords and utility companies, and landlords may apply on behalf of eligible tenants, according to county officials.

Residents can choose to apply for rental assistance and utility assistance or just rental assistance, but they may not apply for only utility assistance.

To find out more about the Cook County Emergency Rental Assistance Program, residents may contact the program helpline at 877-426-6515 or by email at Info.Edev@cookcountyil.gov to receive assistance and be referred to a local partner agency.

More information about other utility and mortgage assistance programs is available online.

Partnering agencies include:

Arab American Family Services
BEDS Plus Care, Inc.
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
CEDA
Center of Concern
Connections for the Homeless
Housing Authority of Cook County
Housing Choice Partners
Housing Forward
Metropolitan Tenants Organization
Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago
Northwest Compass, Inc
Oak Park Regional Housing Center
Open Communities
Respond Now
South Suburban Housing Center.
The Link & Option Center, Inc.
Thornton Township
WCA Metropolitan Chicago