The McHenry County Housing Authority is focused on addressing housing issues. They offer a number of resources to low income and homeless families, most of which are funded by the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program. The community action type agency may have access to funds that can be used to pay for rental expenses, help with applying for section 8 housing vouchers, and grants from LIHEAP. Other helpful services may be provided, such as referrals.
MCHA provides various services to help low-income individuals and families, such as an emergency shelter for the homeless, assistance with paying for security deposits and back rent, and possibly even financial assistance for the first month’s rent. The programs offered by the state of Illinois and the federal government are designed to help low-income and struggling residents in the community.
Grants or vouchers from McHenry County Housing Authority
If you are homeless or facing eviction in McHenry County Illinois, you may be able to get financial help from the CSBG grant program. This program can provide you with money for things like food, housing, and other needs. There may be assistance available to help with paying a security deposit or monthly rental expenses. The community action agency also provides assistance for those who are eligible in finding emergency shelter for the homeless.
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, provides Section 8 Rental Assistance vouchers to eligible residents. The McHenry County Housing Authority also provides Section 8 Rental Assistance vouchers to eligible residents. The program provides health insurance for low-income and elderly residents of Illinois.
Tenants with a voucher pay a portion of their overall household income towards rent, which may also include bills for utilities and heating. The Housing Authority pays a portion of the rent to the landlord on behalf of the tenants, with the tenants responsible for the rest.
Landlords need to sign up for the HUD program too. The people who live in government-supported housing must agree to keep their homes in good condition. Housing authorities inspect the homes to make sure they meet federal standards for safety, habitability, and cleanliness.
To qualify for the program, households must earn below a certain income, as set by the federal government. This income includes money from social security, wages, disability benefits, public aid, and savings. This typically benefits groups like senior citizens, the disabled, and vulnerable groups such as veterans or single moms. The section 8 Illinois applications process can be found online.
Housing assistance
The McHenry County Housing Authority helps people who need low-cost housing by managing dozens of single-family homes, apartments, and duplex units throughout the county. The goal of this program is to help low-income families by providing affordable housing options.
To be placed on the waiting list for these homes, applicants must live in or near the region. This means that if you do not live in McHenry County, Illinois, you may still be able to get public housing, but you will be placed on a waiting list.
MCHA operates a Rental Housing Support Program where it contracts with local landlords to provide rental units. Unlike Section 8 assistance, the client who enrolls in the program must stay in the unit for the entire length of the lease agreement that they sign. This means that if you move, you will no longer be eligible for any housing assistance.
The McHenry County Housing Authority case managers work with landlords to identify potential tenants from the area. These potential tenants are then added to a waiting list. MCHA will pay your rent directly, every three months.
Financial help from Housing Authority
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program’s grant can help eligible residents pay their natural gas, power and electric bills. An overdue bill or cut-off notice is not required to apply for a grant, however appointments are required. To make an appointment with the McHenry County Housing Authority, please call 815-338-7752.
The goal of the Weatherization Program is to reduce home heating bills for local residents. The McHenry County Low-Income Weatherization Program provides free weatherization services to eligible residents who are struggling to pay their utility bills. The program is funded by an annual grant from the Illinois Department of Public Aid.
If you are already receiving help from the government to pay your energy bills, you will automatically qualify for the free Weatherization program. In addition to homeowners, renters who meet income guidelines may be eligible for various forms of assistance. For qualifying renters, landlords must agree to subsidize the cost of the home updates.
A certified contractor from the community action agency does an initial assessment of the home to check what materials and how much labor is needed for weatherization. A contractor experienced in heating systems will check the system for safety and effectiveness. If you’re looking to save on your energy bill, there are a few things you can do. One is to make sure your home or apartment is well insulated. This will help keep the heat in during winter and the cool air in during summer. Another tip is to use energy-efficient appliances. These use less energy and can help you save money on your bill. Finally, be sure to use energy-saving light bulbs. These use less energy and will last longer, so you’ll save money in the long run.
The McHenry County Housing Authority certifies various contractors to perform any necessary work based on the results of this review. This means that the company will come in and do things like replace old or broken parts of the heating system, make sure that it is running as efficiently as possible, and generally just do anything they can to help make your home more comfortable in both winter and summer.
Some other things you can do to improve your home’s energy efficiency are to install smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, seal cracks and gaps, add insulation, weather strip your doors and windows, and repair or replace your windows. The home is then inspected by certified personnel to make sure all work was done correctly.
There are also state and federal health insurance plans available. The McHenry County Housing Authority staff can help clients find housing options. The state of Illinois will help provide certain coverage, such as Medicaid or ACA type plans. This will help Illinois residents have access to health care. There are also government resources for low-income people in McHenry County. Free health insurance is available in Illinois through a variety of programs. The most common program is Medicaid, which is available to low-income residents. Other programs include the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides free or low-cost insurance to children in families that make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, and the Health Insurance Marketplace, which helps people find private health insurance plans.
Dental assistance can also be arranged. The CSBG Emergency Dental Program can help low income or uninsured families who need assistance with affordable dental services. This voucher-based program helps clients get treatment from clinics, hospitals, or other providers they choose.
Apply for resources from McHenry County Housing Authority
The focus is on finding housing, but other resources are available if needed. The non-profit can help with things like self-sufficiency, grants, and energy bill assistance. You can find the McHenry County Housing Authority at 1108 North Seminary Rd. in Woodstock, Illinois. To make a phone call, dial 815-338-7752.