Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund
low-level alert: Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund Application Portal Closed
On Sept. 29, 2025, Cook County launched the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund, a $15 million program that will assist households that have experienced a substantial increase on their property tax bills in recent years.
Under the direction of the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund will provide one-time payments of $1,000 to eligible households.
Limited funding is available.
The application portal was open from Sept. 29, 2025-Oct. 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
The application process will be conducted in two phases to help the County ensure that relief goes to eligible households while reducing the burden on applicants and simplifying documentation needs.
- Phase 1 (Initial Screening): In this phase, you will provide basic personal and demographic information. If you meet the basic criteria, your application will advance to Phase 2.
- Phase 2 (Document Submission): If you advance to this phase, you will be invited to submit documents to verify your eligibility. Successful submissions will then receive payment.
Eligibility
Eligibility requirements include:
- A property tax bill increase of at least 30% in any of the 2021, 2022 or 2023 tax years
- NOTE: This includes those who went from a zero property tax bill to a non-zero bill in tax year 2021, 2022 or 2023.
- A 2024 income at or below 100% of the Cook County Area Median Income (AMI) for the applicant's household size (see guide below).
- For example, a four-person household making $119,900 or less would be eligible.
- The home must be the primary residence of the applicant.
View full program overview and eligibility checklist.
The official application was available at hrf.cookcountyil.gov.
Cook County Area Median Income (AMI) Guide
NOTES:
- Area Median Income is determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
- The income limit refers to the income of all adults in the household.
| Household size | 100% of AMI |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $84,000 |
| 2 persons | $96,000 |
| 3 persons | $108,000 |
| 4 persons | $119,900 |
| 5 persons | $129,500 |
| 6 persons | $139,100 |
| 7 persons | $148,700 |
| 8 persons | $158,300 |
Other resources
While the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund is a limited-time program that will serve about 14,000 households, Cook County remains committed to finding new ways to support residents and provide relief to families facing financial hardship.
Other programs available to residents include:
- Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt, which offers free legal help for foreclosure and consumer debt issues
- 211 Metro Chicago, which is a 24/7 helpline connecting the public to resources associated with housing, utility payments and more
Questions?
For more information on the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund, contact our support team at:
- Phone/text (Ieave voicemail): 708-834-7895
- Email: support@hrfcookcountyil.aidkit.org
For media inquiries, email:
Maria Phelan, Cook County Bureau of Economic Development deputy director of communications
maria.phelan2@cookcountyil.gov
Kyle Garmes, Cook County Bureau of Economic Development public relations specialist