Emergency Rental Assistance

Although these programs are state and federally funded, all have been locally designed to meet the people’s needs in our community.

Past Due Rent Assistance
Security Deposit Assistance
New Beds for the Formerly Homeless
Additional Emergency Housing Assistance

Emergency Rental Assistance Questionnaire

IMPORTANT! The Emergency Rental Assistance Form is not a formal application. We will contact you after review of this form to determine what application is applicable for your situation.

Information and Referral:

Do you have a need that is not covered under what we do here at MCHA? There are a wide variety of helpful programs and services that are offered by other organizations located in McHenry County. The CSBG staff can give you information about these other programs and services, and they can refer you to another organization that might be able to meet your need.

MCHA’s staff also compiled and maintains a very useful and comprehensive resource directory that you can find here: Resource Directory

Program Director
Pepper LaFontaine
815-308-6045
Email

Program Staff
Kayla Prendergast
Email

Megan Bennett
Email

Past Due Rent Assistance

The past-due rent assistance programs may assist those behind in their rent due to circumstances beyond the household’s control. All applicants must be current McHenry County residents and have lived in McHenry for at least 30 days. This program does not assist with mortgages or property taxes.

To verify the economic crisis, all applicants must provide documents that give evidence of at least one of the following conditions: job loss or reduced income due to COVID-19, loss of employment for other reasons, medical disability or emergency, loss or delay of some form of public benefit, natural disaster, victimization by criminal activity, illegal action by a landlord, displacement by a government or private action, or some other condition that was beyond the household’s control and constitutes a hardship compared to the other conditions listed above. Program availability depends on funding availability. Rents must fall within the local rent standards for the household’s size. These programs are funded by a Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and COVID CARES Act funding.

Requirements

Past Due Rental Assistance 30 Day Income Limit

Household Size	1	2	3	4	5	6
30 Day Income LImit	2430	3287	4143	5000	5857	6713

Household Size	30 Day Income LImit
1	2430
2	3287
3	4143
4	5000
5	5857
6	6713

Security Deposit Assistance

The security deposit assistance program may provide a security deposit and/or first month’s rent assistance for eligible McHenry County residents who have been unable to save for their move due to no fault of their own, and are also currently homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness. Applicants must have been approved by a landlord to rent a unit before they can apply for this assistance, and they must provide documentation that they will be able to pay their rent going forward. Applicants must provide proof that they’ve lived in McHenry for at least all of the past 30 days. Verification of residency and homelessness is required from an agency located in McHenry County, such as a Continuum of Care member agency, law enforcement official, or government official.

To verify the inability to save for their move, all applicants must provide documents that give evidence of at least one of the following conditions: job loss or reduced income due to COVID-19, loss of employment for other reasons, medical disability or emergency, chronic homelessness, loss or delay of some form of public benefit, natural disaster, victimization by criminal activity, illegal action by a landlord, displacement by a government or private action, or some other condition that was beyond the household’s control and constitutes a hardship compared to the other conditions listed above. Program availability depends on funding availability. Rents must fall within the local rent standards for the household’s size. This program is funded by a Community Services Block Grant (CSBG).

Requirements

Security Deposit 30 Day Income Limit

Household Size	1	2	3	4	5	6
30 Day Income Limit	2430	3287	4143	5000	5857	6713

Household Size	30 Day Income Limit
1	2430
2	3287
3	4143
4	5000
5	5857
6	6713

New Beds for the Formerly Homeless – This program is currently out of funds

This program purchases new beds for those leaving a homeless shelter located in McHenry County, or whose homelessness in McHenry County can be verified in writing by an agency located in McHenry County that serves the homeless population of McHenry County. Applicants must have resided in McHenry County for at least all of the past 30-days, must not already have a bed, and must be moving into permanent housing immediately. Applicants may not apply for a bed until they have been approved to rent a suitable, permanent rental unit. This program is funded by a Community Services Block Grant (CSBG).

Requirements

Emergency Shelter 30 Day Income Limit

Household Size	1	2	3	4	5	6
30 Day Income LImit	2430	3287	4143	5000	5857	6713

Household Size	30 Day Income LImit
1	2430
2	3287
3	4143
4	5000
5	5857
6	6713