Cook County Board of Commissioners Announce Additional Funds for Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance (Cook County, IL) — On Wednesday, April 27th, President Preckwinkle, the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, and the Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) announced an additional $6.643M in funds for Emergency Rental Assistance to continue to support residents of suburban Cook County who are at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability due to the pandemic.
“I encourage all 16th District residents who qualify to apply for these additional funds as soon as possible,” said Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar. “We saw over the last year how big an impact this rental and utility payment assistance made in our community. The key now is to make sure our residents in need are aware of these programs and know exactly how to get access to this assistance. My office will continue to conduct robust outreach programs in both English and Spanish, in our office and out in the district, to make sure everyone who wants to apply is able to.”
The County’s program has ranked among the most efficient in the nation and quickly delivered much-needed relief to tenants and landlords alike. Administered by the Housing Authority of Cook County (HACC) and the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, the initial round of rental assistance distributed $65.5 million of CARES Act funding in rent and utility bill relief.
A second round, launched in October 2021 with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), delivered an additional $66 million, this time including up to 3 months of future rent as well as compensation for related housing expenses. In total, over $130 million in rental assistance has been distributed by the County and hundreds of millions more has been administered by the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago to assist Cook County renters and landlords in need.
“This is a crucial extension of our Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which has provided aid to over 17,000 households during this difficult time. It was a top priority for the County to continue this program and make critical improvements, such as covering relocation, security deposits, and other housing-related expenses that our residents so desperately need,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.The program last accepted applications in October 2021 and received more applications than available funding at the time could fulfill. Due to the County’s strong performance in distributing the original ERA rounds of funding, the U.S. Department of Treasury re-allocated funding from other areas in the Country to assist people who still need support. These additional funds will be allocated to applicants already in the County’s application portal – the program is not currently taking new applications.
“Cook County’s Emergency Rental Assistance has been one of the most successful programs of its kind in the nation,” states Xochitl Flores, Bureau Chief of Economic Development of Cook County. “This program has been instrumental in providing direct rental assistance, preventing evictions and helping ensure our residents can maintain a stable home, even in the face of unprecedented financial hardships caused by the pandemic.
”From October 2019 through March 2020, prior to the pandemic-related eviction moratorium which began on March 20, 2020, nearly 25 percent of eviction filings ended in an eviction enforced by the Sheriff’s office, meaning the Sheriff’s office dispatched deputies to enforce the judge’s order. In contrast, between October 2021 and the end of March 2022, after the expiration of the moratorium, less than 10 percent of eviction filings have resulted in the court ordering the Sheriff to enforce an eviction.Residents and landlords dealing with issues surrounding evictions and debt are also encouraged to contact Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD) at www.cookcountylegalaid.org or by calling 855-956-5763 to get free legal aid and mediation services to help resolve issues.