Second Round of Chicago Citywide & Illinois Statewide Rental Assistance Programs Open Dec. 6th

City of Chicago & IHDA Rental Assistance Programs Both Open December 6th

Rental Assistance in Chicago

The Chicago Department of Housing (DOH) will open a new rental assistance portal ("ERA 2") beginning Monday, December 6th (10:00am) and closing Saturday, December 18th (11:59pm). This round of ERAP will provide up to $2,500 per month for up to 15 months of past due rent and three months of future payments. Eligible tenants will also be able to apply to receive up to 18 months (15 past due, three future months) of utility payments. The maximum number of months residents can receive ERAP assistance is 18 months between both application rounds. Landlords will need to provide a Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number to DOH. More information can be found on their website. 

Illinois Statewide Rental Assistance (Chicago and Cook Co. Included)

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) will open a new rental assistance portal ("ERA 2") beginning also on December 6th and closing January 9th. In advance of IHDA’s portal opening, housing providers can continue to gather the necessary documents using the resources below: 

• CAA & IHDA Webinar (November 2) PowerPoint Slides
• Illinois RPP Round 2 "Flyer"
• Illinois RPP Housing Provider FAQ

Can my company apply to both programs?

Properties in the City of Chicago are eligible for both of these programs. However, if you previously applied and recieved funding from the Chicago Department of Housing, you may want to apply to IHDA's portal first. DOH is prioritizing new applicants, but are accepting all applications regardless of priortization. A major difference in these programs is utility assistance. DOH's program offers utility assistance to tenants as well.

What is court-based rental assistance?

For court-based rental assistance in Cook County, review the Early Resolution Program. If you are outside of Cook County, and are in the process of an eviction, court-based rental assistance is available and could be a last-ditch option for you and your tenant. As of December 2021, $1.6 million in court-based rental assistance has been distributed from the Illinois Department of Human Services to tenants facing eviction.

What are my other options?

For renters who are in need of immediate assistance, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) is continuing to accept applications for rental assistance. Review all rental assistance options at chicookilrenthelp.org or illinoishousinghelp.org