CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- With Illinois’ eviction moratorium set to end in August, renters are turning to the City of Chicago for help; but the amount of financial aid requested by Chicago residents far surpasses the city’s funding.
More than 26,800 people applied for $137 million in rental assistance. But the Chicago Department of Housing only has $80 million to distribute; which means thousands of residents will have to face past-due rent and future rent payments after the City of Chicago lifts its eviction ban.
The Chicago Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) will provide 15 months of rental assistance to cover past-due rent from the previous 12 months and three additional months for a total of no more than $25,000.
“The number of applications and the aid being requested by landlords and renters demonstrate how many are still in need of assistance 18 months after the onset of the pandemic,” Chicago Department of Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara said in a statement. “While the current aid requested surpasses our current funding capacity, we will help as many as possible and look to open another round of assistance later this year.”
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The Department of Housing said it will try to help as many people as possible and is looking into opening another round of assistance later this year.
Tenants whose landlords have not applied for help can also apply for rental assistance from the state starting at 9 a.m. June 28 through midnight July 18, officials said.