The Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) application portal is currently open, providing support to homeowners who have faced financial hardships. The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has made this resource available to assist residents in Illinois, and applications will be accepted until Tuesday, October 31, 2023, at 11:59 PM.
ILHAF offers financial relief to homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage payment.. It aims to help those who are struggling to catch up on mortgage payments, mobile home loans, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and more.
Key Program Details:
-Eligible applicants may receive up to $60,000 in assistance.
-Even if you received assistance in the first round of ILHAF applications, you can still apply for a maximum total of $60,000 in assistance across both rounds.
-The funds are disbursed directly to your mortgage servicer and other relevant agencies or companies.
To qualify for ILHAF assistance, you must:
-Have experienced a COVID-19-related hardship starting from January 21, 2020.
-Be the homeowner of your primary residence located in Illinois.
-Have a household income below 150% of the Area Median Income for your county.
-Ownership can include various types of homes, such as condos, townhouses, manufactured/mobile homes, or 1-4 unit buildings if you live in one of the units.
-Proof of citizenship is not required.
Applicants are encouraged to explore all options to resolve missed payments, including seeking legal aid, discussing loss mitigation with their mortgage servicer, or consulting a HUD-certified housing counseling agency for foreclosure prevention advice. Proof of exploration of these options is required during the application process.
To apply for ILHAF and gather more information, please visit the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund website: ILHAF (illinoishousinghelp.org). The application period ends on October 31, 2023, but documents may be submitted after the application deadline.
For frequent updates and answers to common questions, visit the Illinois Housing Development Authority website: IHDA – Illinois Housing Development Authority. Remember that ILHAF services are provided free of charge, and homeowners should be cautious of potential mortgage relief scams, as detailed on the Federal Trade Commission website.
After applying, applicants can monitor their application status through their ILHAF account and should regularly check their email for IHDA’s updates or additional information requests. IHDA will follow up with recipients 3 to 6 months after receiving funds to assess the status of mortgage payments, household income changes, and homeownership decisions.
State Representative David Friess encourages all eligible homeowners in Illinois to take advantage of this opportunity to regain financial stability and secure their homes.