Highland Park Tenants Can Apply For $5,000 Grants For Rent

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Tenants in Highland Park can apply for $5,000 grants to help pay the rent during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority is accepting applications through Aug. 28 for its emergency relief program for renters, though officials said the window could close sooner if the agency is inundated with applications.

The IHDA’s $150 million Emergency Rental Assistance program is expected to help about 30,000 renters across the state. To be eligible for a grant from the program, renters must have an unpaid rent balance that started after March 1, according to the IHDA.

Renters, or an adult member of their households, also must have lost income due to the coronavirus pandemic — whether they lost their jobs or had their hours reduced — and earn less than the maximum amount allowed for their area.

Renters can apply for emergency assistance if their income before the coronavirus pandemic was less than 80 percent of the median income of a four-person household in their area, as calculated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

MORE: Deadline Extended For Illinois' Coronavirus Rent Relief Program

According to HUD data, the median income for a four-person household in the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville metro area — which includes Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties — is $91,000.

That means Highland Park renters qualify for emergency rental assistance from the IHDA if they earned less than $72,800, if they meet the program's other criteria.

Renters’ landlords must be willing to participate in the Emergency Rental Assistance Program for their grant applications to be considered.

The IHDA will send $5,000 checks to the landlords of renters whose applications are approved. That money will be used to pay off any rent-related debts, with any remaining money to be put toward future rent payments in 2020, officials have said.

There are several area organizations among the 62 community and outreach assistance organizations chosen by Illinois officials to help applicants through the process.

• Lake County Crisis Center - A Safe Place, located at 2710 17th St. in Zion, can be reached by calling 847-731-7165.
• Lake County Housing Authority, 33928 N. Highway 45 in Grayslake, can be reached at 847-223-1170
• Connections for the Homeless, located at 2121 Dewey Ave., Evanston, can be reached by calling 847-475-7070.
• Open Communities, located at at 922 Davis St., Evanston, can be reached by calling 847-501-5760.
• Housing Opportunities for Women, located at 1607 W. Howard St., Chicago, can be be reached at 773-465-5770