CHICAGO – State Senator Celina Villanueva is encouraging local homeowners to take advantage of assistance offered by the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund.

“This is a resource that will keep our community members in their homes by helping them avoid debt and even foreclosure in extreme cases,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “I encourage all eligible homeowners to apply for this opportunity and receive the support they need.”

The ILHAF program is providing free assistance of up to $30,000 to homeowners who have outstanding housing payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This relief is meant to cover the costs of past-due mortgage payments, property taxes, property insurance and other late expenses. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority, which is responsible for facilitating the program, offers assistance with rent, utility and legal aid. These services can be found at www.illinoishousinghelp.org or by calling 866-454-3571.

“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed many inequities in our health and economic systems,” Villanueva said. “Programs like this are especially important because they prioritize communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the effects of the pandemic, which most often are comprised of individuals of color.”

These and other resources on the Illinois Housing Development Authority website are available in both English and Spanish.