Hernandez Raises Awareness of New Housing Assistance Opportunities, New Round of IHDA Support

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –State Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, is promoting a new round of rental assistance for low-income Illinoisans from the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA). This support launched through the Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP) last Monday.

“While the pandemic created widespread financial hardship across our state, it was households with the lowest incomes, and too often people of color, who shouldered a disproportionate share of the burden,” Hernandez said. “We needed to do all that we could to deploy ILRPP assistance as quickly and equitably as possible, and we will continue to work with IHDA, the Department of Human Services (DHS) and others to ensure those hard-hit households continue to receive the help and support they need to save their homes.”

IHDA’s new assistance funding is available through an online housing assistance application portal, which can be found at https://www.ihda.org/about-ihda/illinois-rental-payment-program. Hernandez’s support for this program follows on the heels of a session spent backing legislation to create a more secure housing environment for countless Illinoisans.

“Assistance programs like this are critical to combatting a full-on housing crisis which would deal a crippling blow to our economy and put thousands of Illinoisans in danger of living without adequate shelter,” Hernandez said. “With this, we are not simply making the moral choice to care for our neighbors, but the fiscally-responsible decision which will put the brakes on a possible long-term housing emergency. The fight for extended economic security for those in danger of losing their homes is far from over and I will continue to work for those in our community who are struggling.”