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Housing help · Illinois

Rent & mortgage help in Illinois

Behind on rent, facing eviction, or worried about your mortgage? Start with the section that fits you. Everything here is free.

Links last checked October 26, 2026. Programs open and close, so confirm before you apply.

Call 211Or text your ZIP code to 898-211. Free, 24/7 in most areas: local rent, utility and food help.

HUD counseling line: (800) 569-4287Connects you to a HUD-approved housing counselor, free or low-cost.

Act fast

Got an eviction notice?

  1. Don't ignore it, and don't move out yet. Read every date on the notice. In most cases a landlord has to go through the court to make you leave, and you have the right to respond.
  2. Go to your court date. If you miss it, you can lose automatically.
  3. Get free legal help today. Legal aid offices help low-income tenants for free, and having a lawyer can change the outcome. Use the legal aid finders below.
  4. Apply for rent help at the same time. Some programs can pay back rent so the case gets dropped. Tell them you have an eviction case, since some programs put those first.
  5. Keep records. Save every notice, receipt, text and email with your landlord.
Find free legal aid →Legal Services Corporation's map of legal aid offices. Illinois tenant rights →Pick Illinois on LawHelp.org for guides and local legal help. HUD eviction help for Illinois →HUD's page of Illinois eviction prevention resources.

Eviction help HUD lists for Illinois

Get caught up

Behind on rent

  1. Call 211 (or text your ZIP code to 898-211). Tell them how much you owe and by when. They know which local programs have money right now.
  2. Contact your community action agency. These local nonprofits often hand out emergency rent and utility money. Find yours by ZIP →
  3. Talk to your landlord early, before the rent is late if you can. Ask for a payment plan in writing. Use our script →
  4. Free up money from other bills. Utility help and SNAP food benefits can leave more for rent. National Energy Assistance Referral line: (866) 674-6327.

Programs HUD lists for Illinois

From HUD's Rental Help: Illinois page. Watch out for anyone who charges a fee to "help" you apply for rent assistance. Real programs are free.

Longer term

Need cheaper housing

Housing authorities run two big programs. Section 8 (Housing Choice Vouchers) helps pay rent for a home you find. Public housing is apartments they own. Rent is usually about 30% of your income.

All 106 housing authorities in Illinois

Homeowners

Behind on your mortgage

  1. Call your mortgage servicer now, the company you send payments to, even if foreclosure has already started. Ask what options they have, such as a repayment plan, forbearance (a pause), or a loan modification.
  2. Talk to a free HUD-approved housing counselor. They can review your options and help you deal with the servicer. Call (800) 569-4287 or pick one below.
  3. Ask about state help. Your state's housing finance agency may run programs for homeowners. Check HUD's Illinois links above, and ask your counselor what's open now.
81 HUD-approved housing counselors in Illinois
Foreclosure rescue scams target people in your spot. The FTC warns:
  • It's illegal for a company to charge you anything until you have a written offer from your lender that you accept.
  • Never sign your home's deed over to anyone. You likely won't get it back, and you still owe the mortgage.
  • Anyone who tells you to stop talking to your lender or counselor, or guarantees results, is a red flag.

Near you

Free help near you

HUD-approved housing counselors give free or low-cost help with rent, budgets and avoiding foreclosure. Housing authorities run Section 8 vouchers and public housing.

More official finders

Free legal aid →Legal Services Corporation's map of free legal aid offices. Enter your address. Your state's legal help site →LawHelp.org: tenant rights guides and legal aid by state. Community action agency →Local nonprofits that often have emergency rent and utility money. Search by ZIP. Housing counselor finder →The CFPB's search of HUD's official counselor list.

Other states

Help in another state

See all 50 states and DC →

Need help right now? Dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 for local food, rent, and utility help, 24/7 in most areas. More free help →