McHenry County moving forward on latest round of rental assistance

More than 500 households have received help from the county

Flags attempt to fly on a relatively still day at the McHenry County Administrative Building on Monday, July 26, 2021 in Woodstock.

A second round of federal rental assistance will go before the McHenry County Board this month for final approval.

The County Board’s Public Health and Community Services committee unanimously approved a resolution to allocate $1.8 million to the McHenry County Housing Authority for continuing the county’s rental assistance program. The funds come from a portion of federal funding the county received Emergency Rental Assistance Program passed by Congress last March.

“It’s very exciting,” said board member Lori Parrish, R-Crystal Lake. “We’ve been so blessed with these funds and I appreciate the housing authority and community development working together.”

This is the second portion of the federal dollars allocated to the county under the program. The county was allocated $7.2 million for rental assistance as a part of the program. They were initially given $2.8 million, and once the county set aside 75% of the $7.2 million for use, it could begin using the remaining $1.8 million, said Hans Mach, McHenry County Community Development Administrator.

The county hit the 75% mark on Dec. 31, Mach said.

So far, the rental assistance program has helped 502 households as of Jan. 3 with rent payments, Mach said. The recipients received an average of $9,700 each.

Parrish said she is glad to see McHenry County has been able to distribute the funds and help residents.

Mach said 1,117 residents and 450 landlords have filled out applications for rental assistance through Jan. 3.