Housing Stability
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed long standing housing insecurities many Illinoisans were already facing, particularly in communities of color that were more likely to experience job losses due to the pandemic.[i] IHDA’s emergency assistance programs helped thousands of households to avoid eviction or foreclosure in 2020 and 2021, but more help was needed. As state and federal protections began to expire in early 2022, nearly one in seven Illinois adults were not caught up on rent, and the state had one of the highest foreclosure filing rates in the country.[ii],[iii] Facing an unprecedented wave of foreclosures and evictions, IHDA worked with housing and community leaders, the Governor’s office, and members of the Illinois General Assembly to deliver emergency rent and mortgage assistance that allowed tens of thousands of families to keep their homes before the public health emergency came to an end.
In 2022 and 2023, IHDA distributed $203.5 million in emergency rental assistance to 27,279 households and an additional $298.6 million in mortgage assistance to 16,845 homeowners who were behind on their housing payments due to COVID-19. Notably, residents of 98 of Illinois’ 102 counties received assistance, and the majority of funds were awarded to households of color, lower income families, and socially disadvantaged populations. By the time the programs came to a close at the end of 2023, IHDA had delivered a total of $1.4 billion in federal assistance to 164,018 Illinois renters and homeowners since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Final reports on all IHDA housing stability programs can be found here.
IHDA’s emergency rental and mortgage assistance programs were supported by multifaceted marketing and engagement campaigns that targeted households. This included a paid media strategy designed to drive applications in neighborhoods hit hardest by the economic impact of the pandemic, public service announcements, and direct mail marketing campaigns. Notably, this effort included partnerships with a network of trusted community-based organizations that serve underrepresented communities across Illinois.
TERMINOLOGY
IHDA emergency rent and mortgage assistance funds helped qualified households catch up on late payments on their rents or mortgages, and provided up to three months of forward payments to maintain housing stability.
Illinois households were eligible for assistance if they had fallen behind on their rent or mortgage payments, met program income requirements, and experienced a financial hardship such as lost income or increased expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
These partners provided strategic counsel on program messaging, hosted community events, offered application assistance, and provided ongoing support should households need further help to maintain housing stability after their application.
While these programs are now closed, IHDA continues to administer programs that offer financial assistance and legal support for renters in eviction court, and also funds a network of HUD-certified housing counseling agencies who provide free counseling and financial education services in communities across the state. This statewide network of local partners continues to provide critical support to families at risk of foreclosure or eviction, helping them to understand their options, apply for assistance programs, and achieve the best possible outcome for their situation.
Chicago
John Devalk, Tinley Park
Like thousands of others, homeowner John Devalk found himself struggling to make his housing payments during COVID-19. Though he was still employed, his monthly income had taken a significant hit as shutdowns and stay-at-home orders created uncertainty in the construction industry. “I had been in construction for so many years, and when COVID hit, construction stopped and there was no income coming into my house. Feeding my kids and family was my number one priority and we were going to have to move because I couldn’t pay the mortgage.” John and his family were close to foreclosure, but when they heard about the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund from his mortgage lender, he applied immediately. The assistance he received took care of his overdue payments to bring him current on his mortgage and ensure he had the support he needed to maintain housing stability moving forward. “When my ILHAF application was approved, it was incredible… IHDA was here for me.”
“When my ILHAF application was approved, it was incredible… IHDA was here for me.”