EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. (KMOX) - Help is on the way for Illinoisans who are behind in their rent. Gov. J.B. Pritzker was joined by his Lt. Governor and heads of the state Housing Authority and Commerce Department at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Community Center in East St. Louis, announcing a $1.5 billion, federally funded rental assistance program.
State Housing Development Director, Kristen Faust, said the program is a big help.
"It offers up to 15 months of rental assistance going all the way back to June 2020 and going forward to August 21." She added the best part, "And this is a grant... it does NOT need to be repaid."
Those grants can be up to $25,000.
Governor Pritzker pointed out, "The Illinois Rental Payment Program will ensure more than 120-thousand household renters see relief." He visited the Metro East right after signing the assistance bill into law.
The funding is four times the amount available last year, as the pandemic dragged on and people got further and further behind on their rent. Eligible Illinoisans are those whose rent is past due, and their household earns up to 80-percent of the area's median income. Those earning 50% or below with have top priority.
The applications are available at www.illinoishousinghelp.org.
Governor Pritzker promised that mortgage relief for homeowners left behind on their payments due to the pandemic will also soon become available.
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