Program Overview
The Mortgage Assistance Program, made possible by the City of Chicago, provides assistance to low-to moderate-income Chicago homeowners who have suffered an economic impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are having difficulty paying their mortgage.
The maximum amount of assistance available is $3,300. Grant amounts awarded will be based on the amount needed to bring your mortgage current. Eligible homeowners will have the assistance paid directly to their mortgage servicer.
DUPLICATION OF BENEFITS
If you received a mortgage assistance grant from NHS of Chicago or the Illinois Housing Development Authority last year (2020), you are not eligible for this mortgage assistance program.
General Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for assistance, you must:
- Be a resident of the City of Chicago
- Live in the home (single family up to 4 units) for which you are applying for assistance. It must be your primary place of residence.
- Demonstrate your total household income was 120% or below the Area Median Income (AMI) prior to March 1, 2020. (See table below.)
- Have a mortgage on your home that was current as of March 1, 2020 and is now delinquent. You may be on a forbearance plan.
- Have experienced a change in your financial status after March 1, 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis.
- Be 18 years of age or over, or be a financially independent minor.
Income Requirements
Please refer to the table below, which shows maximum income by household size, to determine if you meet the income eligibility requirement.
(Area Median Income (AMI) for the Chicago Metropolitan Area effective as of April 1, 2021, per the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.)
| Household Size | 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person | 4 Person | 5 Person | 6 Person | 7 Person | 8 Person |
|---|
| 120% AMI | $78,360 | $89,520 | $100,680 | $111,840 | $120,840 | $129,840 | $138,720 | $147,720 |
|---|
| Household Size | 1 Person | 2 Person | 3 Person |
|---|
| 120% AMI | $78,360 | $89,520 | $100,680 |
|---|
| Household Size | 4 Person | 5 Person | 6 Person |
|---|
| 120% AMI | $111,840 | $120,840 | $129,840 |
|---|
| Household Size | 7 Person | 8 Person |
|---|
| 120% AMI | $138,720 | $147,720 |
|---|
Documents Needed
To apply for the Mortgage Assistance Program, you will provide documents to determine program eligibility and grant amount. Please provide one document (or one set of documents) from Group A, C, D, and E per the grid below, to apply.
Your home address (i.e. the property for which you are applying for mortgage assistance} should match all your documents. If the address on your government-issued photo ID DOES NOT match your current home address, please also provide one document with your current home address on it from Group B.
To submit a COMPLETE application online, you must provide the required documents from each category required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
If you have any questions about the documents needed or the uploading process, refer to our FAQ or call 800-831-7949 to talk to one of our Client Services representatives.
| Group A |
Group B |
Group C |
Group D |
Group E |
Government
Photo ID |
(If Your Photo ID
Address DOES NOT
Match Your
Current Home
Address) |
Proof of
COVID-19–related
loss of income |
Income Eligibility
BEFORE March 1, 2020
(up to 120% AMI) |
Mortgage
Documents |
| Driver’s License |
Utility Bill
(Electric, Gas, Telephone) |
IDES Unemployment
Statement |
2019 Tax Return |
Current Mortgage
Statement |
| Chicago ID |
Insurance Bill
(Homeowners, Auto) |
Documentation from
current/former employer
confirming layoff,
furlough, or reduction
in hours |
2019 W-2s of all adults
18 and older in
household |
| State Issued ID |
Deed to your
current residence |
2 Pay stubs or bank
statements before and
after March 1, 2020
showing a reduction in
wages/earnings |
2 bank statements for
each household member
Prior to March 1, 2020 |
| Passport or passport card |
Voter Registration
Card |
Small Business Closure
Notification |
SNAP Card |
Military ID or Department
of Defense ID Card |
2020 W-2, 1099,
or Tax Statement |
Proof of exhausted FMLA
due to COVID-19 Diagnosis |
| Matricula Consular |
|
2 pay stubs or
bank statements BOTH before
and after a positive
COVID-19 diagnosis showing
a reduction in income |
| Green Card or Visa |
|
Proof of self-employment
and of reduction in income
• Proof of Self-Employment
(e.g. EIN/TIN number or
business license.)
• Paystubs or bank
statements showing
decreased income after
March 1 |
| REAL ID |
Government ID from
any Country |
| Group A |
|---|
Government
Photo ID |
|---|
| Driver’s License |
| Chicago ID |
| State Issued ID |
| Passport or passport card |
Military ID or Department
of Defense ID Card |
| Matricula Consular |
| Green Card or Visa |
| REAL ID |
Government ID from
any Country |
| Group B |
|---|
(If Your Photo ID
Address DOES NOT
Match Your
Current Home
Address) |
|---|
Utility Bill
(Electric, Gas, Telephone) |
Insurance Bill
(Homeowners, Auto) |
Deed to your
current residence |
Voter Registration
Card |
2020 W-2, 1099,
or Tax Statement |
| Group C |
|---|
Proof of
COVID-19–related
loss of income |
|---|
IDES Unemployment
Statement |
Documentation from
current/former employer
confirming layoff,
furlough, or reduction
in hours |
2 Pay stubs or bank
statements before and
after March 1, 2020
showing a reduction in
wages/earnings |
Small Business Closure
Notification |
Proof of exhausted FMLA
due to COVID-19 Diagnosis |
2 pay stubs or
bank statements BOTH before
and after a positive
COVID-19 diagnosis showing
a reduction in income |
Proof of self-employment
and of reduction in income
• Proof of Self-Employment
(e.g. EIN/TIN number or
business license.)
• Paystubs or bank
statements showing
decreased income after
March 1 |
| Group D |
|---|
Income Eligibility
BEFORE March 1, 2020
(up to 120% AMI) |
|---|
| 2019 Tax Return |
2019 W-2s of all adults
18 and older in
household |
2 bank statements for
each household member
Prior to March 1, 2020 |
| SNAP Card |
| Group E |
|---|
Mortgage
Documents |
|---|
Current Mortgage
Statement |
Application Instructions
You may apply online through our secure on-line platform or you may bring your application with all required documentation to one of NHS’ three locations across Chicago.
Please thoroughly review GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, INCOME REQUIREMENTS, DOCUMENTS NEEDED, and APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS before starting your application.
To Apply Online (preferred)
- Step 1: Apply Start the initial online application by clicking on the blue "Apply Now" in the upper right of this page or by clicking HERE.
- After you submit the Mortgage Assistance online application, you will receive an email with detailed instructions on uploading your documents to your secure NHS online account. This may take up to 24 hours. You may also access the "How to upload document to your online NHS account" resource by clicking HERE.
- If you do not already have an NHS online account, you will also receive a separate email asking you to confirm your online account. Once you confirm your secure NHS online account, you will be able to upload and save documents.
- Step 2: Upload the required documentation to your secure online NHS account by clicking HERE or going to the "Client Login" button on the NHS webpage. You may upload and save documents and login again at a later time to upload additional documents.
If you are not able to upload electronic versions of your documents, you may drop off paper copies of your documents at NHS offices during normal business hours.
- Step 3: Submit the online submission form to certify that you have provided all of the required documents and attest to the accuracy of the information and documents you have provided.
You must upload the required documents from each group above (A,C,D,E and optionally B) to your online account and then certify your application online to submit a COMPLETE application.
Please note that INCOMPLETE applications WIIL NOT be reviewed.
After you complete the online submission form, NHS staff may reach out to you with questions and/or to request additional documentation. It may take up to 30 days to process your submitted application.
To Apply in Person (Contactless)
Please download, print and complete an APPLICATION, organize all of the required documents as indicated in the "Documents Needed" chart above and drop your complete packet off in one of our secure lockboxes at one of NHS’ office locations. Offices are open Monday – Thursday from 10am-5pm.
Wicker Park: 1279 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622
West Humboldt: 3601 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60651
South Side: 639 E. 87th Street, Chicago, IL 60619
To submit a COMPLETE application, you must provide the required documents from each category required. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
If you do not have an email address, please be sure to provide a phone number where you can be reached.
Turnaround Time, Notification, and Grant Payment
Once you submit your complete application, we aim to either approve or deny your application within 30 days. If we have questions or need additional documentation, we will reach out to you.
You will be notified by email of grant award and amount if you are approved. You will be informed of grant denial, if you are not approved.
If you are approved for a City of Chicago mortgage assistance grant, NHS will pay your loan servicer directly. If you receive a confirmation from NHS that you are receiving a grant, please check with your servicer after one week to confirm your account was credited with the grant amount.
Other Services
Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS) is here to help you navigate through this economic crisis. We also provide a full range of services, including financial counseling, analyses to lower your housing costs, foreclosure intervention counseling, and foreclosure prevention workshops. We can help you identify other resources and options for your COVID-19 related housing issues.
For any information or questions related to these programs, please call us at 800-831-7949, or email EmergencyAssistance@NHSChicago.org.