NEWS

Illinois launches rental assistance program for landlords, renters in eviction court

Riley Eubanks
State Journal-Register
The Illinois Supreme Court announced the launch of a Court-Based Rental Assistance Program that will be available to tenants and landlords across the state. The Illinois Department of Housing has allocated approximately $60 million to the program, which is only available to litigants in eviction court and they may qualify for up to 12 months of past due rent and 3 months of future rent to prevent eviction and homelessness. [Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register]

Without any certainty about when Illinois' eviction moratorium will end, the state is rolling out a new rental assistance program for landlords and tenants in eviction court.

The Illinois Supreme Court issued an order Monday directing that information on a new $60 million Court-Based Rental Assistance Program will be provided to litigants in eviction court across the state outside of Cook County beginning Wednesday. Up to 12 months of past-due rent and three months of future rent can be paid for by the program. 

"As the governor’s eviction moratorium begins to sunset, courts are expecting a surge in eviction filings that will require significant resources to properly process and litigate," court officials wrote in an order signed by Supreme Court clerk Carolyn Taft Grosboll.

Sangamon County:Bank robbery suspect still at large; FBI takes lead in investigation

Gov. JB Pritzker has repeatedly extended a statewide eviction moratorium throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It is set to expire on Oct. 3 unless it is again renewed.

“We think that it’s a very effective way to get the word out about the program and we just hope tenants and landlords apply for the assistance and work together to complete the application,” said Bob Palmer, policy director for Housing Action Illinois

Stella Dean, communications director for the Springfield Area Landlord Association, said she hasn't received any guidance from the state on if Pritzker will decide to extend the moratorium but that she wouldn't be surprised if it is renewed.

"Obviously, any programs to assist landlords recouping loss of rent due to the eviction moratorium is beneficial," Dean said.

Members of the landlord associations typically have only gone to eviction court for cases related to property damage or other crimes during the eviction moratorium period, Dean said.

Clean energy bill:Landmark clean energy legislation passes Senate; Pritzker pledges to sign bill into law

Dean said 15% of her members reported income loss during the moratorium, which has allowed tenants to not pay rent due to the economic ramifications of the pandemic and the nationwide recession in early 2020.

"I firmly believe that a lot of landlords will, obviously, seek the courts assistance in regaining their properties," Dean said. "Most tenants, or residents as we call them, have had plenty of opportunity and notice to seek rental assistance."

In August, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a nationwide eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ruling it did not have the power to issue such an order.

COVID-19:Family of fully vaccinated COVID-19 victim sends a message to doubters in her obituary

A rental assistance program administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority during the pandemic is closed but people looking for relief can apply through the Illinois Department of Human Service's program at https://www.illinoisrentalassistance.org/. In Springfield, Fifth Street Renaissance is assisting with applications.

The new court-based relief program will be administered by IDHS, according to the state Supreme Court. Landlords and tenants will have to provide documentation in order to qualify for the program though proof of citizenship is not required. If the two sides opt into the program, tenants cannot be evicted for overdue rent.

The Supreme Court order was recommended by the Illinois Judicial Conference’s Court Operations During COVID-19 Task Force. Eviction relief in Cook County will be administered through a separate program.

Patrick Laughlin, IDHS deputy communications director, said rental assistance programs in Illinois assisted 56,000 families in 2020.

Contact Riley Eubanks: reubanks@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@rileyeubanks