HB2653enr 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB2653 Enrolled LRB096 04211 DRJ 14256 b

AN ACT concerning housing.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Homelessness Prevention Act is amended by changing Sections 6, 8, and 10 as follows:

(310 ILCS 70/6) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 1306)

Sec. 6. Forms of assistance. Assistance offered to households by grantees shall include but not be limited to the following:

(a) payment of a rent or mortgage arrearage in an amount established as necessary to defeat the eviction or foreclosure, but shall in no event be greater than 3 months of rental or mortgage arrears;

(b) payment of a rent deposit or security deposit and payment of not more than 2 months rent or mortgage payments;

(c) payment of utility bills and arrearages; or

(d) support services, where appropriate, to prevent homelessness or repeated episodes of homelessness.

(Source: P.A. 91-388, eff. 1-1-00.)

(310 ILCS 70/8) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 1308)

Sec. 8. Payment of assistance. Assistance provided under this Act may be paid to a landlord, mortgage company, utility company, or other vendor who provides housing or other services to an applicant for assistance.

(Source: P.A. 91-388, eff. 1-1-00.)

(310 ILCS 70/10) (from Ch. 67 1/2, par. 1310)

Sec. 10. (a) Program staff shall, whenever practicable, negotiate with the landlord of a household approved for assistance under the program to enable the household to remain in its current housing.

(b) Program staff shall, when there has been a loss of public benefits to the household, take all practicable steps to assist in the restoration of the household's public benefits.

(c) Program staff shall identify, and assist households in applying for, any form of public benefits or entitlements for which the household may be eligible.

(d) Program staff shall, 6 months after the end of each State fiscal year and as determined by the Department of Human Services assistance is provided to a household under the program, determine whether the household has remained in the residence in which they were residing at the time assistance was provided, and determine whether the living situation of the household is stable.

(Source: P.A. 86-1454.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.