Do you live in Suburban Cook County and
need help paying rent and utilities
due to COVID-19?
The Cook County Emergency Rental Assistance program pays up to 12 months of missed rent and utilities payments and up to 3 months of future rent payments.
Applications open March 11, 2021, and will be accepted until April 2, 2021. Start the application process at cookcountyil.gov/recovery.
How do I know if I’m eligible? To be eligible, renters 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)
- Have proof of fi hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Have a household annual income at or below these requirements:
Household size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
Income | $51,000 | $58,250 | $65,550 | $72,800 | $78,650 | $84,450 | $90,300 | $96,100 |
What documents do I need to apply? For the initial application, renters need:
- Photo ID
- Social Security card (if available)
- Verifi of income for 2020 (e.g., recent paystubs or tax returns)
- Documentation of COVID-19 fi hardship (e.g., unemployement claims or proof of income decrease)
- Latest utility bill (if applying for utility assistance)
To apply and learn more:
For assistance with your application and language translation services, please contact the Cook County Emergency Rental Assistance Program helpline at 877-426-6515.
If you live in the City of Chicago and need rental assistance, visit chi.gov/housinghelp for more information