Skokie Tenants Can Apply For $5,000 Rent Grant During Pandemic

SKOKIE, IL — Tenants in Skokie 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 Skokie 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.

• Center of Concern, at 1665 Elk Blvd., Des Plaines, can be reached at 847-823-0453.
• Connections for the Homeless, located at 2121 Dewey Ave., Evanston, can be reached by calling 847-475-7070.
• Housing Opportunities for Women, located at 1607 W. Howard St., Chicago, can be be reached at 773-465-5770
• Northwest Compass, Inc, at 1300 W. Northwest Highway, Mount Prospect, can be reached at 847-392-2344
• Open Communities, located at at 922 Davis St., Evanston, can be reached by calling 847-501-5760.

Cook County also offers a rent assistance program for suburban residents through the Housing Authority of Cook County, which is funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security, or CARES, Act.

To qualify, renters must have past-due status on rental payments starting March 27, not receive rental assistance through any other programs and prove income below 80 percent of the median income for the Chicago area.

The county's program pays of up three months of overdue rent missed since the start of the pandemic. For those who owe only one or two months of rent, it will pay for up to two more months going forward for a total of three months of rent. More information is available from the county.