Champaign County Residents Urged to Apply for Emergency Rent Assistance Before Eviction Moratorium Ends on July 25
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Maurey Williamson
Communications and Public Affairs Coordinator
(217) 369-6666
Champaign County Residents Urged to Apply for Emergency Rent Assistance Before Eviction Moratorium Ends on July 25
Remaining funding expected to help between 900 and 1,200 households in Champaign County
URBANA, IL (July 13, 2021) Champaign County residents financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with past due rent and utilities are urged to apply for assistance through the RPC’s Emergency Rent Assistance (ERA) program before the state eviction moratorium ends on July 25.
Applications for ERA can be obtained on the RPC’s website at www.ccrpc.org/ERA. Printed versions of the application can also be obtained at Champaign and Urbana libraries, the Rantoul Community Center, and at the RPC’s main office located in the Brookens Administrative Center (1776 E. Washington Street, Urbana).
Along with a completed application, residents applying for ERA must also provide:
• Photo identification
• A copy of their lease (or a letter from their landlord confirming their status as a renter)
• A copy of their rent ledger from January 2020–present
• Copies of ALL most recent past-due utility bills (power, water, sewer) Note: bills over one-month-old will not be accepted
• Proof of income for all household members, such as a copy of Tax Year 2020 Form 1040 as filed with the IRS for your household, or a copy of the last 60-days of income for all household members; if applicable, applicants must also provide proof that they have received unemployment benefits in the 90-days prior to their scheduled intake appointment, along with a printout of their weekly Illinois Department of Employment Securities (IDES) payments
“We have hired additional staff in an effort to provide timely assistance,” stresses Lisa Benson, the RPC’s Community Services Director. “We encourage those who are eligible to apply today and to inform their landlord about the submission to attempt avoiding eviction proceedings.”
Fully completed and signed applications with paper copies of all required supporting documents can be submitted by mail to the RPC. Fully completed applications can also be delivered in person by placing their sealed envelopes in the drop box outside the Washington Street entrance at the Brookens Administrative Center (submissions will NOT be accepted via e-mail or facsimile).
ERA staff will review all submitted applications and contact individuals by phone to schedule an in-person intake appointment to complete the eligibility determination. If it is determined the applicant is eligible for assistance, ERA staff will contact the applicant’s landlord to obtain additional documentation. The RPC anticipates that payments will be processed within 14-30 days after receipt of all required documentation. Further information can be found at www.ccrpc.org/ERA.
The Emergency Rent Assistance Program will remain open until all funds are expended, with remaining funding expected to help between 900 and 1,200 households in Champaign County. The project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number 21.023, awarded to the RPC by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.