Community-based housing for both elderly persons and persons with disabilities provides distinct and obvious advantages. For these persons who have experienced the need for home modifications to accommodate a disability or mobility impairment, this option can be reduced or eliminated if appropriate funds are not available to allow such persons to maintain living in their existing homes and age in place, thereby preventing unnecessary or premature institutionalization.

Through the recommendations of the Illinois Housing Task Force included in the State’s 2006 Annual Comprehensive Housing Plan –“On the Road to Success,” a new statewide pilot program is being announced, the Home Modification Program. It will be funded initially by $1 million through the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund, per the following:

-Qualifying eligible applicant organizations (non-profits or public agencies) may apply to administer such programs locally. Each must have or partner with agencies with capacity in home repair, aging, and disabilities services programs. Individual project sponsor awards will range from $50,000 to $200,000.

-All program clients (beneficiaries) must be elderly persons/households or persons with disabilities, with household incomes at 50% or below their area’s median income, as defined by IHDA. Individual households would be eligible for up to $5,000 in home modification repairs and improvements. Further assistance up to $15,000 (total) per household shall be available for more extensive modification needs and/or to correct other health/safety code violations where possible. All grant assistance will require a recorded 5-year recapture provision (due upon sale or transfer of the property).

IHDA is working closely with the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) to involve its services provider agencies in both potential administrative and referral roles for this new program. The program will be operated out of Illinois Housing Development Authority’s Single Family Programs Department.

To provide more detailed information on this pilot program, IHDA will make its Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and application forms/instructions available and post this information on its website (ihda.org) by April 17, 2006. In addition, IHDA is also conducting application workshops (jointly sponsored by IDoA and IDHS) around the state to review the NOFA and application requirements and procedures.  All workshops are will be held from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.  The dates and locations for each are as follows:

For all applications to be considered for funding, the deadline for IHDA to receive them is by Friday, June 2, 2006. For additional information or questions prior to the workshops, please contact one of the following persons/agencies:

In closing, we look forward to working with interested parties in implementing this important, new funding program!

To download application and other documents, please click here.