GENERAL INFORMATION
The Household Emergency Assistance Grant Program is intended to provide funds to assist qualified Village residents who meet the HUD low-moderate income limits with funds to assist with payment of up to 3 months of past due utility bills to ensure that residents do not have utilities turned off or risk becoming homeless. The program provides grant funds with a minimum of $250 and a maximum grant of $1,000 for a single household. Awarded funds will be paid directly to the utility on behalf of the applicant.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
•Eligible applicants are homeowners or renters living within the Village of Rantoul Corporate Limits and the applicant must have lived in their current household location for at least 1 year and must income qualify under the 2020 HUD income limits.
•Eligible applicants must have a utility account that is in their name for their current household location.
•Eligible applicants must demonstrate how the COVID pandemic has impacted their ability to make timely utility payments.
•Applicants are eligible to apply even if they have applied for and received LIHEAP funds.
•Grant funds may only be used to pay off up to 3 months of past due Village utility bills. Funds will be paid directly to the utility on behalf of the applicant.
•Minimum grant award is $250 and Maximum grant award is $1,000. The amount the program is able to award will not always be equal to the maximum grant amount due to the availability of funds.
•Funds will be awarded as program budget allows. It is anticipated that a total of approximately $81,000 in funds will be budgeted for this program.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Contact Village Community Development staff at (217) 892-6824 to discuss your needs, review the program and get any questions answered. The program application will be accessible on the Village’s website. A 2nd application period began April 5 and completed applications will continue to be accepted until all funding has been exhausted.
Completed program applications may be dropped off in the drop box at Village Hall, 333 S Tanner St. or may be mailed to: Village of Rantoul, Attn-Community Development, 333 S Tanner St. Rantoul, IL 61866. An application will only be accepted and reviewed after receipt of a completed and signed grant application form.
Each application will be individually evaluated and approved applications and grant award amounts determined. Once an application is approved an award letter will be issued and grant agreement executed and grant funds will be disbursed as quickly as possible.