House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch announced the Rental Payment Program, which helps ensure the state’s most vulnerable residents have a roof over their head, will provide one-time grants to assist renters who are unable to make their payments. The 2021 Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP) provides direct financial assistance to Illinois tenants who struggle or are unable to pay their rent due to COVID-19-related economic hardship. This year, approved applicants will receive one-time grants of up to $25,000, paid directly to their housing provider or landlord to cover missed rent payments covering up to 12 months of back due rent and up to three months of future rent. To date, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has received nearly 97,300 completed ILRPP applications from renters and landlords in 100 of Illinois’ 102 counties requesting over $940 million in rental assistance. To date, IHDA has already approved 26,323 applications and paid out more than $209 million to 24,174 households affected by the pandemic.  IHDA will launch the next round of rental assistance – and the new mortgage assistance program – later this fall.