The Aurora City Council this week approved a $500,000 rental assistance program for city residents who have had trouble paying rent because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Aldermen voted unanimously for the program, which will be funded with federal Community Development Block Grant money. Local officials are hoping to have registration for the program up and running by Monday.
“This could be a difference between someone being homeless, or staying in their home,” said Mayor Richard Irvin.
The Aurora program utilizes both 2020 Community Development Block Grant funds, and recently awarded COVID-19 Community Development Block Grant funds, for the $500,000. Because both were disbursed to the city two weeks ago, the money is available immediately for eligible households upon council approval.
Adrienne Holloway, the city’s chief innovation officer, helped develop the program along with Aurora Community Development Manager Chris Ragona, who oversees the city’s block grant program.
Holloway said the city expects to be able to help between 300 and 400 renters, paying no more than $3,500 to any one applicant.
The point of the program is to provide temporary financial relief to Aurora residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; help ensure housing stability for low- to moderate-income workers who have been furloughed, lost jobs or had work hours reduced due to the pandemic; and help landlords stay current on their mortgages and other property-related expenses.
The program would grant qualified applicants for up to two months of past due rent. The amount of rental assistance is based on the rent amount outlined in a signed lease, with maximum amounts established by HUD’s current fair market rent based on bedroom size.
Aurora’s program is designed to supplement the Illinois Emergency Rental Assistance program, which began taking applications Monday with the opening of the application procedure on the Illinois Housing Development Authority website. People looking to apply can go to era.ihda.org and also see eligibility requirements and get questions answered.
The Neighbor Project in downtown Aurora has been selected as the only official community partner for the Kane County/Fox Valley area to assist with the state’s Emergency Rental Assistance. The Illinois program would grant up to $5,000 for rental assistance.
The city program will be taken on a case-by-case basis by reviewing small area fair market rents, duplication of benefits review and unique circumstances included by the applicant in an application.
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