Even as the Illinois Supreme Court acted this week to extend the Illinois eviction moratorium to Oct. 3 in line with the latest executive order extension by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the Salvation Army’s Oak Brook Terrace office is continuing to offer rent and mortgage assistance to DuPage County residents in danger of losing their homes.
“We know that unpaid bills are a leading factor of homelessness,” Major Caleb Senn said in a telephone conversation with Pioneer Press. “We want to be able to help people pay rent and other utility bills so they can remain in their homes and avoid homelessness at all costs.”
Salvation Army sources cited statistics they say indicate more than 11,000 households in DuPage are behind with rent. Senn, 44, is the corps officer in charge of the Oak Brook Terrace office. He said since last October the Salvation Army has spent $341,000 of its own funds to provide rental assistance and help with utility bills to DuPage residents, in addition putting those in need in touch with state and city resources.
That is just part of the $2 million in grants the Army has made for mortgage and rent assistance in the greater Chicago area.
“We are committed to help as many people as we can,” Senn said.
Anabel Le, 35, of Villa Park received assistance from the group after Googling “help with bills during COVID.” She asked for help with utility bills in an email to the Oak Brook office and got a prompt response. “Honestly, it was great,” she said in a phone conversation with Pioneer Press. “During really hard times, they really helped out.”
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That help included paying Le’s gas and electric bills and providing a month’s rent earlier this year for Le, her husband and their three daughters, three to eight years old. Le said her husband is a nail technician whose income dried up as COVID-19 caused the closure of the salon where he worked. Even after the salon reopened, she said many former clients were leery of close personal contact.
Salvation Army’s services for the family have included summer camp, classes and Christmas gifts for her children, and tuition assistance as Le herself has gone back to college to learn medical billing and coding. “It’s an opportunity to help others,” she said, “and there are always job openings.”
Senn encouraged DuPage residents in need of help to get in touch with the Oak Brook Terrace office by calling 630-629-3044 or by visiting the website, SAOBT.org.
Senn said that will put people in touch with a case worker who will work with the resident and their landlord or mortgage holder. Senn said rental assistance from the Army is paid directly to the property owner.
“It’s really about a wholistic approach,” Senn said. “We’re trying to avoid homelessness.”
Senn said the Oak Brook Terrace office also welcomes donations. “We can’t do it without our donors,” he said.
But Senn said his organization is ready to help, whenever the eviction moratorium is lifted.
“When the moratorium is lifted, we’re going to see numbers we’ve seen maybe never,” he said.
In addition to the variety of services available through the Salvation Army, the DuPage County website notes that residents who are behind on their rent due to COVID-19 may be eligible for emergency rental assistance from the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA). See the DuPage County website for more information: DuPage County Offers Rental Assistance Program, DuPage County IL Press Release
The county is working with IHDA to help eligible DuPage households receive up to 15 months of assistance for payments from June 2020 through August 2021. Tenants must work with landlords to apply for the program, as grants are paid directly to the housing provider. Applications will be taken beginning May 17 at Home — Illinois Rental Payment Program (ihda.org)