The Application for the Illinois Rental Assistance Program is OPEN! Apply for up to $25,000 in rental assistance until January 9th. Click ‘Apply Now’ to get started and learn more information.
If you already applied for assistance, you can check on the status of your application using your application ID and your rental unit zip code.
Apply For Up To $25,000 In Rental Assistance
Will County is partnering with the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) to administer our 2021 Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
The Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP) is an emergency rental assistance program designed to support households in Illinois that are unable to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tenants whose application is approved will receive a one-time grant of up to $25,000 paid directly to their landlord to cover missed rent payments between June 2020 and prepay payments through April 2022, or until the grant is exhausted, whichever comes first.
ILRPP is funded by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and is designed to help tens of thousands of Illinois renters avoid eviction and stay safe and in place during a public health crisis. Please note: an application is not a guarantee of assistance.
The landlord-led and tenant-led application period for the Illinois Rental Payment Program is open from December 6th through January 9th.
After a tenant starts the application, a notification will be sent to their landlord to complete the application. IHDA will be reaching out to your landlord directly if they fail to timely submit the required information. If you are unsure whether your landlord will participate, you should still apply.
Eligibility Requirements
To receive assistance through ILRPP, tenants must meet the following criteria:
- Household is behind on their rent for at least 30 days
- Household lives in Illinois and rents their home as their primary residence
- Household’s total gross income cannot exceed 80% Area Median Income for location
- Household must have experienced a financial hardship directly — or indirectly — due to the pandemic, for example:
- Being laid off
- Place of employment has closed
- Reduction in hours of work
- Loss of spousal/child support
- Inability to find work due to COVID-19
- Having to stay home with children due to closure of day care/school
- Unable to participate in previous employment due to the workplace’s high risk of severe illness from COVID-19
- At risk of homelessness or housing instability
Documentation Requirements
The application will be a joint application from the landlord and the tenant. We strongly encourage you to communicate with each other and begin preparing your materials.
Landlords/Housing Providers
Acceptable Proof of Identity
Government-issued photo IDs are acceptable, including the following:
- Government Issued Driver’s License of REAL ID
- Temporary Visitors Driver’s License
- Government Issued Photo ID Card
- Matricula Consular of and Foreign Consulate ID
- U.S. or Foreign Passport
- U.S. Permanent Residency Resident Card
- Chicago CityKey ID Card
Acceptable Proof of Ownership
The following documents are acceptable; the property address and owner name must be legible:
- Installment of 2020 property tax bill
- 2021 monthly mortgage statement (dated within 90 days)
- Deed
- Print of from count website
- Property management agreement (required if you are a property manager)
Evidence of Past Due Rent
The following documents are acceptable if they include the rental unit address and they show tenant is past due for the months listed on the application:
- Notice of past due rent (5-day notice, 30-day notice, 60-day notice)
- Eviction notice
- Rent roll/tenant ledger
- Rental receipt
- Rental statement
- Other written evidence
Tenants
Acceptable Proof of Identity
Government-issued photo IDs are acceptable, including the following:
- Government Issued Driver’s License of REAL ID
- Temporary Visitors Driver’s License
- Government Issued Photo ID Card
- Matricula Consular of and Foreign Consulate ID
- U.S. or Foreign Passport
- U.S. Permanent Residency Resident Card
- Chicago CityKey ID Card
Acceptable Proof of Address
Please attach one of the following; the document must include applicant’s name, rental address and be dated within 90 days of applying
- Utility Bill 9gas, electric, water, trash, etc.)
- Cable/Internet Bill
- Cell Phone Bill
- Insurance Policy
- Bank Statement
- Credit Card/Debit Card Statement
- Benefit Award Letter (social security, unemployment, etc.)
- Letter from a Public Entity (such as a school, city or unit of government)
Acceptable Evidence of 2020 Income
Please provide one or more of the following documents:
- 2020 filed tax return (Form 1040) – pages 1 and 2
- 2020 W-2 tax forms
- 1099 forms for tax year 2020
- Letter from employer stating 2020 income
- Last paystub showing year-to-date income earned in 2020. Most recent paystub dated 2021
- 2020 or 2021 benefit award letter, statement, or payment detail
- All bank statements showing 2020 or 2021 income (please highlight all regular income)
- 2020 or 2021 profit & loss statement (self-employed or contract work)
Other Documents
- Lease – required if the rental unit is a basement, room rental, or shared living space.
- Copy of voucher with tenant portion rent – required if tenant is receiving project-based rental assistance/section 8
- Copy of re-certification of income with ner rental amount – required if tenant is receiving project-based rental assistance/ section 8
The following agencies can assist both landlords and tenants with the application process.
South Suburban Housing Center
18220 Harwood Avenue, Suite 1
Homewood, IL 60430
Homewood, IL 60430
(708) 957-4674
Spanish Community Center
309 N Eastern Avenue
Joliet, IL., 60432
(815) 727-3683
Will County Center for Community Concerns
2455 Glenwood Ave.
Joliet, IL
(815) 722-0722
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