La Salle housing rehabilitation grant application process may take a few months

Qualifying La Salle residents looking to apply for a housing rehabilitation grant after an April 24 announcement from Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may have to wait a few months for the process to begin.

La Salle Economic Development Director Curt Bedei said the city is not expecting to hear from anyone until June, with the application process likely starting in August.

“North Central Illinois Council of Governments is the head administer for this grant, so I am awaiting direction from them once they get direction from the Community Development Block Grant programs office,” he said. “We do not know with the early announcement if that will start the process sooner or will remain the same.”

Housing rehabilitation grants are available for owner-occupied homes. They are designed to assist low- to moderate-income homeowners with improvements to ensure safe and sanitary living conditions. Eligible uses of funds include structural work, electrical, plumbing, new appliances, flooring, and Americans With Disabilities Act-complaint and accessibility accommodations, among others.

Each applicant could receive up to $64,000 for improvements if they qualify. Qualified applicants must be owner-occupied and meet a certain threshold for income levels.

In October, the council approved a $20,000 commitment toward the program and applied for $650,000.

Bedei said it’s important to remember that based on the ranking of the low- to moderate-income homes and the work that needs to be completed, this project will rehabilitate an estimated 10 single-family, owner-occupied homes.

“The surveys that were filled out by residents last year were not applications,” he said. “The surveys were used to show the need in the community so we could apply for the grant. Watch for announcements from our social media and the paper.”

For information, contact Bedei at 815-223-3755, ext. 5021, or c.bedei@lasalle-il.gov.