Kane County offering rent and utility assistance to renters at risk of losing housing
Renters in Kane County who are behind on payments and at risk of eviction can apply for rent and utility help through July 31 as part of the county's Homeless Prevention Program, according to a press release from the county.
The program is meant to help pay rent and utility bills that are past-due up to 12 months, up to three months of future rent and security deposits for rentals. Residents in the county are eligible if they earn 80% of the area median income or less, live in a rental unit in the county, are behind on rent or utilities or live in unsafe or overcrowded housing, have lost income or received unemployment and haven't received other federal rental assistance during the same time and haven't applied for this program before.
County residents can apply at this link: https://www.zoomgrants.com/gprop.asp?donorid=2150&limited=4594. Applications will be taken through July 31, the county said.
Processing applications can take six to eight weeks, according to the county. Individuals with questions about the program can contact Kim Lovely at LovelyKim@KaneCountyIL.gov or 630-444-1231, or Brittny Garcia at GarciaBrittny@KaneCountyIL.gov or 630-232-5871 for assistance in Spanish.
The program is federally funded as part of the United States Treasury Department's Emergency Rental Assistance program, a county spokesperson said. The federal program was meant to provide housing stability for renters during the COVID-19 pandemic, per the Treasury Department's website.
Funding for the Emergency Rental Assistance program expires and therefore must be spent by Sept. 30, 2025, according to the Treasury Department's website. The county does not expect to apply for more federal funding for the program going forward, the county spokesperson said, and instead plans to start a different, grant-funded program through the county health department.
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