Wilmette Homeowners Eligible For $15,000 Mortgage Relief Grant

WILMETTE, IL — Some homeowners in Wilmette may be eligible for a grant of up to $15,000 to help pay their housing costs during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority is accepting applications through Sept. 4 for its $150 million Emergency Mortgage Assistance program, though officials said the application window could close early if the agency receives a large number of applications.

The Emergency Mortgage Assistance program is expected to help about 10,000 homeowners across the state. To be eligible for a grant from the program, homeowners must have an unpaid balance on their mortgage that started after March 1, according to officials.

Wilmette area homeowners, or an adult member of their households, also must have lost income due to the coronavirus pandemic and earn less than the maximum amount allowed for their area.

The IHDA determines income eligibility based on median incomes calculated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The IHDA’s website includes a tool that allows people to check if they are eligible for emergency assistance.

The IHDA will send grants to the mortgage servicers of homeowners whose applications are approved. The grants will only pay full mortgage payments and will no cover partial payments, according to officials.

EMA grants will be used to cover past-due mortgage payments, with any remaining money to be put toward future payments in 2020, officials have said.

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Area homeowners can receive help with their applications from several north suburban organizations, among the 62 community and outreach assistance organizations selected by Illinois officials to assist the process.

They include Lake County Crisis Center - A Safe Place in Zion, the Lake County Housing Authority in Grayslake, Connections for the Homeless and Open Communities in Evanston and Housing Opportunities for Women on Howard Street in Chicago.

RELATED: Deadline Extended For Illinois' Coronavirus Rent Relief Program

Renters in the New Trier Township area can apply for a $5,000 rent relief grant from the IHDA through Friday, after state officials extended the application deadline by a week due to strong storms in parts of Illinois.