Open communities partners with Cook County to offer rental assistance
Open Communities, a fair housing non-profit serving Chicago's North and Northwest communities, is partnering with Cook County to assist suburban residents in paying missed rent and utility payments due to COVID-19.
The Cook County Emergency Rental Assistance program helps suburban Cook County renters and landlords who have experienced financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants are eligible to receive up to 12 months of missed rent and utility payments and up to 3 months of future rent payments.
The application portal opens today, Thursday, March 11, 2021, and Cook County will accept applications through April 2, 2021.
North and Northwest suburban Chicago residents should contact Open Communities for assistance with navigating the application process, access to computers and the internet, and questions about qualifications. Open Communities is also able to help with landlord-tenant mediation and they are a HUD approved agency.
To be eligible for the Cook County Emergency Rental Assistance Program, applicants must:
• Live in suburban Cook County and rent their home (Landlords may apply on behalf of tenants)
• Lack access to other support (e.g., don't live in public housing or receive rental assistance from other programs during the same time period)
• Meet the annual household annual income requirements
• Have proof of financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Covid-19 related financial hardships include: losing your income, working fewer hours, being furloughed, quitting your job because you are at high risk for COVID-19 and need to self-isolate, and losing work to stay home to care for a child.
For a list of required documents and to begin the application process, please visit https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/covid-19-recovery-rental-assistance-program.
For assistance with completing the application, including access to computers and the internet, please contact Open Communities at https://www.open-communities.org.