With the state poised to lift an eviction ban that has protected renters during the pandemic, Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday earmarked $80 million in federal relief funds for a third round of rental assistance.
To qualify for up to 15 months of rental assistance and help paying utility bills, tenants must: live in Chicago; have suffered “hardship due to COVID-19, such as job loss, reduced hours or illness within their household”; be at risk of housing instability; have earned less than the maximum household income during 2020 at the time they apply.
Applications can be made at chicago.gov/renthelp and must be filed by 11:59 p.m. on June 8. Renters can get help filing their applications in multiple languages by calling 312-698—0202.
Landlords can apply for assistance on behalf of a renter.
Throughout the pandemic, low-income Chicagoans who have borne the brunt of the coronavirus and the layoffs and reduced hours triggered by the stay-at-home shutdown have been shielded by state and federal eviction bans.
But, Gov. J. B. Pritzker announced last week that the state eviction ban would be phased out by August.
That makes the third round of rental assistance at the city level all the more important and well-timed.
“Over the course of this incredibly difficult year, our residents, especially our most vulnerable ones, have faced unimaginable loss that is compounded by a systemic poverty and lack of access to safe, affordable housing,” Lightfoot was quoted as saying in a press release.
“The Emergency Rental Assistance Program will not only help to relieve these residents of the fear of losing their homes and being thrown further into uncertainty and socio-economic instability but allow our city to make significant progress in our mission to provide our communities with resources they need to thrive long after this pandemic is over.”
The first time Chicago offered rental assistance during the pandemic, the Department of Housing received an avalanche of 83,000 applications. The $2 million was only enough to provide $1,000 grants to 2,000 people. The other 81,000 got nothing.
The overwhelming demand gave way to a second round of rental assistance. Both rounds have now provided $33 million in assistance to 10,000 households.
The Department of Housing has once again forged a partnership with The Resurrection Project to administer 75% of the new, $80 million in assistance as well as to provide case management services.
A dozen other delegate agencies will assist in providing “in person services to assist residents with limited access to technology.”
“The Department of Hosing is thrilled to be providing this much-needed assistance to renters vulnerable to eviction and to landlords vulnerable to foreclosure,” Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara was quoted as saying.
“Between our portal and the many community-based organizations with deep ties in neighborhoods with whom we are partnering, it is our goal to ensure as many households remain stably housed as possible.”
Last year, residential housing groups, landlord associations and lenders signed a non-binding “Housing Solidarity Pledge” to show “flexibility and restraint” in dealing with one another during this unprecedented time of hardship to prevent the pandemic from triggering another wave of foreclosures.
Participating landlords agreed to offer grace periods with terms that “avoid repayment at the end of the deferral period.” They also promised to waive late fees for missed payments and allow renters who miss payments to amortize those payments over time.
No one was satisfied because it was only a pledge.
But with a $1.9 billion avalanche of federal stimulus funds, Chicago is now in a position to deliver more.
"assistance" - Google News
May 24, 2021 at 11:41PM
https://ift.tt/3oJki1T
Chicago to offer $80 million in assistance to renters - Chicago Sun-Times
"assistance" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2Ne4zX9
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Chicago to offer $80 million in assistance to renters - Chicago Sun-Times"
Post a Comment