Several rental assistance and eviction prevention programs operate throughout Illinois, although the primary state portals for requesting emergency aid are currently closed. Assistance is distributed primarily through local community networks, non-profit organizations, and specialized court-based programs.
Court-Based & Eviction Relief Programs
If you are currently facing eviction proceedings, these state-funded programs offer immediate intervention:
Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP)
The Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP) is a state-administered initiative providing emergency financial aid to tenants and landlords actively involved in eviction court proceedings.
If you submitted an application during the recent enrollment period, you can check your status online via the Illinois Housing Help CBRAP portal. For telephone assistance regarding pending cases, you can contact the program’s call center at (866) 454-3571.
Since the CBRAP portal is temporarily suspended, if you have an upcoming court hearing, you should immediately contact state-sponsored legal advocacy services:
Eviction Help Illinois: Offers free legal assistance, counseling, and mediation services. Visit Illinois Housing Help or call (855) 621-0811.
HUD Housing Counselors: Provide free professional guidance on managing situations involving past-due rent. Locate a counselor using the HUD search tool for Illinois.
Eviction Help Illinois
Eviction Help Illinois is a state-funded network of non-profit organizations offering free civil legal assistance, neutral mediation services, and connections to emergency housing resources for low-income tenants and unrepresented landlords across Illinois. Funded through a partnership between the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF), the program aims to increase housing stability and prevent unnecessary displacement.
You can contact a legal assistance professional or begin an initial assessment through three main channels:
By phone: Call the statewide hotline at (855) 631-0811.
By text message: Text the word “eviction” (or “desalojo” for Spanish-language services) to 85622 or send a message to 844-938-4280.
Online: Visit the official Eviction Help Illinois website to use the live text chat or the virtual assistance portal.
IDHS Homelessness Prevention Grant
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Homelessness Prevention Program funds local non-profit organizations and community agencies to provide immediate, short-term financial assistance to households facing eviction, foreclosure, or homelessness. Instead of applying directly to IDHS, individuals must apply through the designated local network providers operating in their specific county.
Since funds are distributed at the community level, you should reach out via the state helplines or directly to the provider agencies:
State helpline: Call 1-833-234-6343 (1-833-2-FIND-HELP) or text the word “SHELTER” to 552020 to be automatically connected to the nearest provider managing active IDHS grant funds.
Local Agency Directory: Consult the IDHS official list of homelessness prevention providers for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) to find contact numbers for local non-profit organizations—such as PADS, Catholic Charities, or the People’s Resource Center—based on your jurisdiction.
Local Programs by Region
Local rental and homelessness prevention programs in Illinois are coordinated regionally through Continuum of Care (CoC) networks and Community Action Agencies. Since statewide application portals are currently suspended, local options are grouped below by major region:
Chicago and Cook County Region
City of Chicago Residents: Financial assistance is channeled through the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness and the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS). You can dial 311 or call (312) 744-5000 to request “short-term assistance” or information regarding the homelessness prevention program.
Suburban Cook County Residents: Direct emergency assistance for rent, security deposits, and utilities is managed centrally. You can call the Suburban Cook County Homelessness Prevention Call Center at (877) 426-6515.
Regional Eviction Defense: The organization Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD) offers free legal assistance and coordinates the Early Resolution Program (ERP). Contact them at (855) 956-5763.
Northern Region and Collar Counties (DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, McHenry)
DuPage County: Managed through DuPage County Community Services and local providers such as the People’s Resource Center. Call the DuPage County intake line directly by dialing 211 or (630) 407-6500.
Lake County: Managed through the Lake County Federal Emergency Rental Assistance network. Residents can call 211 or contact Lake County Community Action to check fund availability.
Will County: Administered through the Will County Center for Community Concerns. Call (815) 722-0722 to find out if local intake sites for rental programs (CSBG or IDHS) are currently open.
Central Illinois Region (Peoria, Sangamon, Champaign, McLean)
Champaign County: Administered through the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (RPC), which collaborates with local municipalities to offer up to one month of emergency rental assistance to households at risk of eviction. Call (217) 328-3313.
Peoria and Tazewell Counties: Managed through the Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity (PCCEO). Call (309) 671-3900 for information on eligibility assessments for local utility and emergency rental assistance.
Sangamon County (Springfield area): Coordinated through the Sangamon County Department of Community Resources. Call (217) 535-3120 for information on local grant programs.
Southern & Downstate Region
Madison and St. Clair Counties: Managed by Madison County Community Development at (618) 692-8940 and the St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department at (618) 825-3221.
Rural counties in the rest of the state: Managed through multi-county Community Action Agencies. For example, the Western Illinois Community Action Agency serves rural western counties, while the Shawnee Development Council serves the southernmost areas.
How to find your specific regional agency
If your county is not highlighted above, you can locate your local service provider using these tools:
Call 2-1-1: Available in most Illinois counties for immediate information on local programs for rental assistance, emergency housing, and energy services.
IDHS Provider Directory: Consult the full geographic directory in the IDHS Homeless Prevention Providers List to find the non-profit organization assigned to your zip code.
CAA Map: Search the DCEO Community Action Agency Directory to locate the office managing local block grants for your county.
Long-term housing subsidies and supportive housing
To obtain long-term affordable housing, rather than one-time emergency assistance:
Public Housing Authorities (PHAs): The vast majority of ongoing Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers) are administered by your municipality’s housing authority.
Rental Housing Support Program (RHSP): An ongoing state rental subsidy that specifically connects very low-income households with affordable housing. This program typically operates via a waiting list system.
Section 811 Supportive Housing: Dedicated federal funds aimed at providing rental subsidies and independent living support to people with disabilities.
