Housing

Get more information on assistance with housing issues:

COVID-19 Housing Resources:

The State of Illinois eviction moratorium ended on October 3, 2021, but Chicago tenants still have financial and legal options to help them to remain in their homes. Three important points:

  1. Don't self-evict. A notice of eviction from your landlord does not mean you need to leave your home right away. Only the Sheriff can legally remove you from your home.
  2. Get legal help. Free legal assistance is available to Chicago renters. Visit Rentervention.com, which is provided by the Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, or other resources listed below.
  3. Get financial help. Visit chicago.gov/eviction for a list of places residents can apply for emergency rental assistance and more information regarding eviction, lockouts, or renters rights.

Additionally, under the COVID 19 Eviction Protection Ordinance, landlords filing evictions due to nonpayment of rent against tenants who have coronavirus-related financial hardships should wait for a seven-day “cooling-off” period in addition to the regular five-day notice period. After the “cooling-off” period, landlords must show the court that they have engaged in good faith efforts to reach a reasonable alternative to eviction, including mediation, payment plans, or other options before an eviction can proceed.

Residential tenants who have lost income as a direct or indirect result of the COVID-19 pandemic should notify their landlords in writing within five days of receiving an eviction notice in order to further protect themselves from eviction.

For more resources regarding eviction, lockouts, or renters rights, visit our Resources for Renters page or chicago.gov/eviction. Please visit our Resources for Renters page for more information about current and upcoming rental assistance programs.

Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF)

Illinois has received approval from the U.S. Department of the Treasury on its Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) program to provide assistance to Illinois homeowners who have struggled to pay their mortgage due to COVID-19. This program is no longer accepting applications. For updates, please visit https://www.illinoishousinghelp.org/ilhaf

Roof, Porch, and Emergency Heating Repair Programs

The Roof, Porch, and Emergency Heating Repair Programs are grant programs available to income-eligible Chicago homeowners to repair or improve to their homes. Open enrollment for the Emergency Heating Repair Program runs from Nov. 1 thru April 1. There are 3 ways to register: Online at www.chicago.gov/roofandporch, through the CHI311 Mobile App, or by calling the City’s 311 service line. Only one registration per address will be accepted. To learn more visit our Homeowner’s Page. 

Garfield Green (C40) Community Garfield Park Updates:

The project has gone under multiple updates in 2020 and 2021 through Community Conversations that discussed Design, Green Building Standards, and Retail plans.

Follow along with the updates on the project. Community feedback is encouraged.

Illinois Solar for All:

This program creates greater access to the clean energy economy for low-income communities through incentives that help make solar installations more affordable and result in measurable savings for participants. Read more to learn more about the program. 

Preserving Affordability Together: A BluePrint for Community Action:

This community-created booklet shares recommendations from an eight-month process to preserve affordability in East Garfield Park.  Created with Metropolitan Planning Council and Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University.

More Housing Resources:

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