Community Calendar

Starting April 11, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) recently announced they will be offering homeowner assistance through the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) to help homeowners who have fallen behind on mortgage payments and related housing expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Households who meet the eligibility criteria will be able to apply for up to $30,000 in free assistance to pay past due mortgage payments, property taxes, property insurance, and delinquent homeowner and/or condo association fees. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.

Homeowners in need of assistance can find more information on program eligibility and how they can prepare to apply at www.illinoishousinghelp.org.

Who is eligible?

The Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) is a federally funded program dedicated to assisting homeowners who are at risk of default, foreclosure, or displacement as result of a financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 Homeowners with household incomes less than 150% of the Area Median Income
 Homeowners who own and occupy their property as their primary residence
 Homeowners who are at least 30 days late on their mortgage or property tax payments.
 Homeowners who have experienced a financial hardship directly related to COVID-19 that began, continued, or worsened after January 21, 2020
 The Effingham County Case Managers will offer assistance completing those applications.

Documentation Needed:

 Home Preservation Option (supplied by HUD Counselor, legal aid attorney, or mortgage servicer)
 Form of Identification
 Household Income
 Proof of Residency
 Proof of Ownership
 Past Due Payment
 Special circumstances

*For detailed information on required documentation, visit: https://assets.website-files.com/617033bdd8cf10d9f75baef2/623b39a1d5ad855aeac7116e_ILHAF%20Acceptable%20Documents%20Form%20English%20V6%2003.15.2022.pdf

There are videos and webinars that will be available to assist with making the application process more efficient. The webinars will be available in English and Spanish.

Go to <https://www.illinoishousinghelp.org/ilhaf> for links and instructions to attend sessions at the dates below:

English

 Tuesday, April 5 at 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

 Tuesday, April 12 at 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Spanish

 Thursday, April 7 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

 Thursday, April 14 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

For more information and to stay up-to-date, visit the Effingham County Case Manager at the Effingham Public Library, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.. The Case Manager is also available to assist with unemployment, applying for food stamps, Medicaid and other state and federal programs, and more. This is a free service and service is offered on a first come, first served basis.