Housing Assistance in Illinois

Last Updated on December 20, 2022 by Meghan

Single mothers are constantly battling hurdles in their everyday lives, but perhaps the biggest one of all is finding safe, decent and not to mention affordable homes. They spend hours surfing the net and reading newspaper after newspaper only to find dead ends. As a way to make things easier for single moms to find roofing over their heads, we’ve rounded up housing programs and schemes in the state of Illinois.


Illinois Housing Development Authority

The Illinois Housing Development finances construction projects to develop affordable and safe housing for the financially vulnerable population, including single mothers. The house built are sites for small families and they are designed to meet all the basic needs. On top of constructing these homes, they provide portals on their sites that allow anyone to locale these affordable homes with relative ease. Browse their site to find the best affordable home tailored to your needs:https://www.ihda.org/rental-housing/

Rental Housing Support Program

The Illinois Housing Development Authority works in close partnership with local agencies to run the Rental Housing Support Program. In a nutshell, this program provides rent assistance to single moms, low income individuals and the elderly who live in properties participating in the support scheme. Typically these properties will be decent, sage and well-equipped to deal with different weather conditions. To apply, you simply have to contact the agency directly on their site:https://www.ihda.org/rental-housing/

The Department of Housing and Urban Development Subsidized Housing

As a single mom, your salary doesn’t usually allow you to cover all your monthly expenses. For instance, you’ll often have to settle for an unsafe home simply because you are unable to pay the full rent for better living options. To solve this issue, there are many homes across the state of Illinois that offer Subsidized rent funded by Department of Housing and Urban Development. To locale these houses and to find out if you meet the criteria for a Subsidized house or apartment, visit their website at:

The Transitional Housing Program Illinois

As a result of mental, physical, structural economic factors, people who have been living in homeless shelters for an extended period of time find it rather difficult to get back on their feet and afford a proper home. The Transitional Housing scheme steps in by supplying Subsidised housing, counseling and grants to qualified candidates. Here’s more on them:https://www.co.madison.il.us/departments/community_development/transitional_housing_program.php

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Energy expenses put a huge dent in your monthly budget, but they are absolutely necessary nontheless. Single mothers and other low income residents are targeted by the Low Income Home Energy Assistance, it helps them pay monthly expenses like gas, electricity and heat. Once you’ve qualified for the project you can expect the following:

  • Reduced maximum down payment for payment arrangement
  • Erases late fees
  • Extends time to pay deposits
  • Lowers the maximum deposit amount

Since it works on the basis of eligibility, find out if you qualified here: https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-liheap

Illinois Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program

For persons under high risk of Homelessnes or those that are already living on the streets, the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program aims to assist them find temporary and potentially permanent homes. Beyond that, candidates are offered help in the form of rent assistance and access to employment. To find out how to apply, visit their website:https://www.co.madison.il.us/departments/community_development/homelessness_prevention_rapid_re-housing_program.php

Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 Program

It’s a well-known program running in all the states of America. In simple terms, the Housing Choice Voucher helps low income residents afford rent payment by working with landlords to subsidise rent payments. When approved for the scheme, you typically pay a maximum of 30% of your income towards rent and the remaining amount is covored by the Voucher. Since demand is so high, the eligibility requirements for this project are very strict, find out if you qualify here: https://www.lakecountyha.org/hcv-section-8

Revive Center For Housing and Healing

The Revive Centre for Housing and Healing is a non-profit organization working in collabe with the Illinois Continuum of Care. It’s aim is to supply a smooth and quick transition from homelessness to temporary housing and long-term housing retention for single moms, the elderly and other struggling individuals. In addition to that, they provide counselling and workshops to ensure that candidates are able to fend for themselves in a short periods of time. Get in contact with them: https://revivecenter.org/ourwork

IHDA Mortgage Loan

The Illinois Housing Development Authority launched the IHDA Mortgage loan in order to lend a hand to residents who have demonstrated the will and partial means to purchase a home but are unable to cover the downpayment. Should you be qualified for this project, you will receive down-payment and closing costs assistance added to a fixed rate loan. This is especially targeted at low-income first time home buyers. Read more about them at:https://www.ihda.org/my-home/getting-an-ihda-loan/

Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants

It’s also known as the section 504 program which runs in all the states of america. In a nutshell it helps the population in need to renovate and repair their home so as to remove safety and health hazards. Grants are given to the elderly who are 62 years or older. The rest of the population is given access to an affordable loan with favourable terms and interest gates. The following are the loan terms:

  • 20 year repayment period
  • Fixed interest rate of 1%
  • If the property is sold within 3 years, grants must be repaid

Find out more here:https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-repair-loans-grants/il

If you are living in Illinois, you may like to check these resources too:
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