The City Council of Pontiac began work with IHDA’s CR team in October 2024, and adopted this plan in October 2025. The community is anticipating increased attention in the coming years due to its strategic location as the country celebrates both the 100th anniversary of Route 66 as well as the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, and wants to be prepared for new housing and increased population.
The Village of Durand is located in Winnebago County and is home to approximately 1,400 people. The entire village was designated as the community revitalization strategy area, with an additional look at the greater Durand Area, including the Durand Community School District. This plan was led by the Durand Housing Committee and focuses on the housing stock and additional community resources. This report was completed in January 2025.
The Village of Skokie is a northern suburb of Chicago located in Cook County. The community is home to 67,000 residents and encompasses just over 10 square miles. This Housing Stock Report assessed structures across census block groups with over 50% Low to Moderate Income (LMI) residents for utilization and condition. This report was completed in October 2024.
The City of Mattoon, located in Coles County in east-central Illinois, designated the entire municipality of approximately 17,000 people as its community revitalization strategy area. City Council adopted this Housing Needs Assessment and Community Revitalization Plan in October 2024.
The City Mt. Vernon in partnership with Housing Authority of Mt. Vernon plan was concluded in August 2023. The housing assessment included an examination of community needs across the entire city, with specific focus on the South Town neighborhood.
The Village of Erie designated the entire municipality of approximately 1,700 people as its community revitalization strategy area. The Village adopted this Housing Needs Assessment and Community Revitalization Plan in April 2023.
The entire City of Watseka was designated as the community revitalization strategy area for this study. With its approximately 4,900 residents, Watseka has seen a population decrease in recent years and is dedicated to improving housing stock and improving quality of life of its residents through economic and community development.
Mason County is located in Central Illinois, constrained by the Illinois River to the west and the Sangamon River to the south. The county has many assets, including multiple state recreational sites and historic downtown districts. This study was commissioned by Praireland Community Development on behalf of the county.
The Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation (SIHF) and the St. Clair County Housing Authority (SCCHA) formed a partnership with IHDA to revitalize the newly formed City of Cahokia Heights, created by ballot merger of the communities of Cahokia, Alorton, and Centreville in 2021.
The City of Jacksonville adopted this plan in 2023 after considerable public comment. A 2023 9% LIHTC award was made to a development that used this plan as evidence for scoring.
The City of Macomb adopted this housing needs assessment and Revitalization Plan in the fall of 2022 after engaging residents and Western Illinois University students to gain a fuller understanding of the issues facing the community.
IHDA's Community Revitalization team completed a housing stock survey for the entire municipality in partnership with the Homes for a Changing Region program staff in late summer of 2021.
The City of Peoria adopted this plan in the spring of 2021 after considerable public comment, and a housing developer was allocated Low Income Housing Tax Credits in 2020 based partly on the strength of this planning document.
The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s (NLIHC’) newest case studyon Illinois Housing Development Authority’s 2020 Emergency Rental Assistance program illustrates how emergency rental assistance programs that are designed to be simple and accessible facilitate timely distribution of critical emergency funds to low-income households disproportionally impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the case study here!
COVID-19 and Housing
The economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the fundamental role of housing in keeping families safe, stable, and healthy. It has also exposed the longstanding housing affordability crisis that existed well before the pandemic, as well as the widening disparities in access to safe and affordable housing, especially for low-income households and people of color. As the public health crisis led to layoffs, furloughs, and decreased business revenues, the housing cost burdens many families were already experiencing became unmanageable, and many households were suddenly facing housing insecurity. Though Illinois quickly enacted moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures, direct financial assistance was needed to assist those who were accruing considerable amounts of back rent or missed mortgage payments after a COVID-19-related job or income loss.
Rapid Response
In May, the Illinois General Assembly directed over $300 million in federal aid from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) to provide direct assistance to struggling renters and homeowners. In 60 days, IHDA launched the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) and Emergency Mortgage Assistance (EMA) programs to cover past due rent and mortgage payments, as well as future housing payments for the period of March 1 through Dec. 30, 2020. Approved renters received a one-time, $5,000 grant paid to their housing provider on their behalf, and homeowners received up to $25,000 paid directly to their mortgage servicer. The programs successfully delivered more than $325 million in emergency housing payments before the legislated deadline of Dec. 30, 2020.
CRF Program Impact
In six months of administering the programs, IHDA received 97,893 unique applications, 78,314 of which were eligible for review. By the end of 2020, IHDA was able to fund all eligible and complete applications, providing a total of $230.6 million in rental assistance to 46,129 households and $98.5 million in mortgage payment assistance to 10,071 households. While initial projections showed 30,000 renters and 10,000 homeowners would be served by the programs, IHDA assisted 53% more renter households than expected.
Building on the state’s commitment to assist families and communities with the greatest needs, over 67% of ERA funds and 50% EMA funds were awarded to applicants in zip codes that have been disproportionately impacted by the health and economic effects of COVID-19, exceeding goals mandated by the Illinois General Assembly. Ensuring assistance was provided equitably to underserved communities was a priority, and 67% of ERA funds and 56% of EMA funds were awarded to households who identified as American Indian, Asian, Black or Pacific Islander. Nearly 12% of ERA funds and 17% of all EMA funds were provided to applicants who identified as Hispanic/Latinx. In addition, nearly 20% of all program funds were awarded to applicants in areas outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
2020 Illinois Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance Programs Factbook
The Emergency Rental Assistance and Emergency Mortgage Assistance programs disbursed more than $324,000,000 in past due rent and mortgage payments helping keep over 56,000 households safe and sheltered at home during the pandemic.
At the national level, the Illinois program is seen as a model. Most importantly, the large number of renters and homeowners served, and the large dollar volume pumped back into the Illinois economy helped keep vulnerable households in place at a time of a national pandemic.
To learn more about the program, please download the full EMA/ERA Factbook
Coronavirus Relief Fund Testimonials
2020 was a challenging year for all Illinois residents. However, the Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance programs provided relief that allowed 56,200 households to stay safe and sheltered at home during the pandemic.
We encourage you to listen to a few of their stories in the testimonials below.
The Emergency Rental Assistance and Emergency Mortgage Assistance programs disbursed more than $324,000,000 in past due rent and mortgage payments helping keep over 56,000 households safe and sheltered at home during the pandemic.
111 E. WACKER DRIVE,
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