Starting Monday April 11, Illinois homeowners who are behind on mortgage and property tax payments because of COVID-19 can apply for up to $30,000 in financial assistance from the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF).

To be eligible for the federally funded program, homeowners must:

• Have experienced financial hardship directly related to COVID-19 that began, continued or worsened after Jan. 21, 2020.
• Be at risk for default, foreclosure or displacement because of financial hardship caused by COVID-19,
• Own and occupy the property as their primary residence,
• Be at least 30 days late on their mortgage or property tax payments and
• Have a household income less than 150 percent of the area median income.

To apply, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) recommends homeowners:

• Register for and attend an IHDA information webinar (English, 3 p.m. April 12 or Spanish, 11 a.m. April 14).
• Contact their mortgage servicer or HUD-certified counseling agency to discuss options to prevent foreclosure and put a plan in writing.
• Collect acceptable documentation to accompany your application.

IHDA also provides information on income limits and answers Frequently Asked Questions.