Attention parents! $6,500 housing payments from a state income program set to begin
A new program entitled the Illinois Stability Investment for Family Housing (SIFH) will provide cash support for families in the state.
In recent years there have been a number of attempts around the country to introduce a guaranteed income program. One of them - the Illinois Stability Investment for Family Housing program - is about to begin dispensing money to families across the state.
The program is available to families with children in Chicago public schools and who are struggling with the cost of housing. The SIFH aims to offer support to families “who don’t have a regular place to stay or are unhoused currently”.
The deadline to apply was midnight on March 9, meaning that the opportunity to sign up for this round of payments has now passed. However this offering has been termed a ‘pilot’, suggesting that there will be more payments to come if the program is deemed successful.
One of the biggest challenges people are facing is housing.
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) February 19, 2025
The Director of Housing Solutions proposed a slate of reforms to unlock new financing, attract capital, incentivize builders, and eliminate barriers.
This year, we put those recommendations to work.
The program offers a one-time payment of $6,500 to up to 750 families in Illinois. Another 750 families will receive $500. That impact of that support for the 1,500 families will then be gauged over the coming months. The money will be distributed through direct deposit or Link card and should be with the recipients by June 30 at the latest.
To be eligible for this round of payments, families must have at least one child in Chicago’s public schools and receive state benefits through any of the following programs: SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, State Food Assistance or Victims of Trafficking, Torture or Other Serious Crimes.
The funding comes from a $13 million pot set aside by the state of Illinois, to cover a three-year period. The pilot debuted in 2023 and has already provided support for more than 1,125 families according to Capitol News Illinois.
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