Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Funding for Community Development

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was enacted to respond to the growing effects of the public health crisis caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19). The CARES Act included special allocations of both Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) and Emergency Solutions Grant Coronavirus (ESG-CV) funding. 

This page details the ways that Cook County will be utilizing this funding and application information. 

Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) Funds

Cook County received a special allocation of Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) funding to be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID-19. Cook County has received an initial allocation of $6,420,182 of CDBG-CV funds, and expects to receive an additional allocation later this year.  Cook County is currently in the process of assessing various potential uses of its first allocation of CDBG-CV funds. This website will be updated with any information about the funding, intended uses, and opportunities to apply for these resources.

Emergency Solutions Grant Coronavirus (ESG-CV) Funds

Cook County received a special allocation of Emergency Solutions Grant Coronavirus (ESG-CV) funding to respond to COVID-19 among individuals and families who are homeless and support homelessness prevention activities to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. Cook County has received an initial allocation of $3,049,979 of ESG-CV funds and a second allocation of $5,812,412.

Cook County is working closely with the Suburban Cook County Continuum of Care, led by the Alliance to End Homelessness to determine how best to deploy the ESG-CV funds. Cook County has released an application related to the homelessness response to COVID-19.

COVID-19 Homelessness Response Application 

Download the Cook County Covid 19 Homeless Response Application 

Applications are due by Tuesday, July 14 at 5:00pm.  This application is now closed. 

Cook County released an application geared toward the response needs of the homeless system in suburban Cook, noted above.

The ways that ESG-CV funding can be used are detailed below:

Emergency Shelter: ESG-CV funding can be utilized to cover costs associated with providing hotel-based or congregate sheltering for individuals and families in need of shelter to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Rapid Re-Housing: ESG-CV funding can be utilized to cover rental assistance and associated costs for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and in need of permanent housing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Uses of this funding include:

  • Rental Assistance: rental assistance and rental arrears
  • Financial assistance: rental application fees, security and utility deposits, utility payments, last month's rent, moving costs
  • Services: housing search and placement, housing stability case management, landlord-tenant mediation

Homelessness Prevention: ESG-CV funding can be utilized to cover rental assistance and associated costs for individuals and families at an imminent risk of homelessness due to hardship incurred as a result of COVID-19. Use of this funding include:

  • Rental Assistance: rental assistance and rental arrears
  • Financial assistance: rental application fees, security and utility deposits, utility payments, last month's rent, moving costs
  • Services: housing search and placement, housing stability case management, landlord-tenant mediation

 

Street Outreach: ESG-CV funding can be utilized to cover costs associated with reaching out to unsheltered homeless individuals and families, connecting them with emergency shelter, housing, or critical services, and providing them with urgent, non-facility-based care. These services may include the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Homeless Management Information System (HMIS): ESG-CV funds can be used to pay for the costs of participating in and contributing to the HMIS designated by the Continuum of Care for the area.