Chicago Emergency Rent Help 2026–27: Which Programs Are Open, Who Qualifies, and What to Do If You Already Have an Eviction Case

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If you are behind on rent in Chicago, the first thing to know is that not every rent program you find online is taking applications. As of this writing, the City of Chicago says its Rental Assistance Program (RAP) is not accepting new applications because of high demand, and its pandemic-era Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is closed. Meanwhile, the statewide Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP) is open, but only to tenants who already have an eviction case in court.

That situation can change, so this guide is organized as a status board. It covers which door is open, who each program serves, what documents to gather now so you are ready when one opens, and the free legal help every Cook County renter can use regardless of income.

Status Board

Program	Who runs it	Current status	Who it serves
Rental Assistance Program (RAP)	Chicago Dept. of Family and Support Services	Not accepting new applications	Chicagoans at risk of homelessness, income at or below 30% AMI
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)	City of Chicago	Closed	n/a
Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP)	State of Illinois	Open	Illinois tenants with a pending eviction case for nonpayment, income at or below 80% AMI
Early Resolution Program (ERP)	Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt	Available	Cook County renters facing eviction, any income

Check the official pages listed under Sources before acting. Statuses are posted by each agency and can change without notice.

If You Have an Eviction Case: Apply to CBRAP

The Illinois Court-Based Rental Assistance Program provides emergency rental help to tenants and landlords across Illinois who have pending cases in eviction court. According to the program:

What it can pay:

up to $10,000 toward past-due rent
up to $700 for court costs
up to two months of future rent, to prevent displacement

You may be eligible if:

you are in a court eviction case because of nonpayment
you rent an apartment in Illinois
your household income is at or below 80% of the area median income for your county and household size

How it works: the tenant applies first. If you are eligible, your landlord gets an email inviting them to complete their part of the application. You can check your application status online.

Documents:

the eviction complaint, summons and court case number, with your name on the eviction document
your current signed lease, if you have one
note that the check payee must match the plaintiff named in the eviction filing, so the landlord's name on the case matters

The program publishes a full list of acceptable documents on its site.

Do not skip court while you wait. Applying for rental assistance does not cancel your court date. Go to every hearing and tell the judge you have applied to CBRAP.

If You Applied to RAP Already

The City's Rental Assistance Program, run by the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS), gives short-term help to Chicagoans who have housing now but could lose it after a temporary drop in income or another emergency. It is not taking new applications. If you already applied, you can check your status in the online portal or contact any of the six DFSS Community Service Centers below.

For reference, so you are ready if RAP reopens, here are the city's posted rules.

RAP may pay:

rent, to keep you housed and prevent displacement
security deposits in cases of fire, flood, foreclosure, housing relocation, domestic violence, or a court order to vacate

You may be eligible if:

you live in the City of Chicago
you are at risk of homelessness because of eviction, loss of income or another emergency
your household income is at or below 30% of Area Median Income as defined by HUD
you can show you will be able to keep paying rent after the help
your landlord completes the RAP requirements

RAP is open to all Chicago residents regardless of immigration status.

Documents RAP asks for:

a 5-day notice of nonpayment, or an eviction notice
proof of the loss of income or other emergency that caused you to fall behind
a pay stub, benefits statement, or affidavit explaining no income
photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID or CityKey
a current lease of at least six months
landlord agreement forms
proof you can keep paying rent, such as pay stubs, Social Security or SSDI income, a job offer letter, pension or annuity documents, a benefit award letter, a letter from your employer if you are paid in cash, or bank statements showing savings

Special situations: the city says people who are victims of domestic violence, have had a fire or flood, face a landlord foreclosure, or have been ordered by a court to leave an uninhabitable unit can contact a Community Service Center for help.

DFSS Community Service Centers (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Auburn Gresham: 1140 West 79th Street, 312-747-0200
Garfield: 10 South Kedzie Avenue, 312-746-5400
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: 4314 South Cottage Grove, 312-747-2300
North Area: 845 West Wilson Avenue, 312-744-2580
South Chicago: 8650 South Commercial Avenue, 312-747-0500
Trina Davila: 4312 West North Avenue, 312-744-2014

The centers offer in-person and phone translation in languages other than English and Spanish.

Free Legal Help for Any Cook County Renter

Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt (CCLAHD) provides free legal help to Cook County residents facing eviction, foreclosure, consumer debt and tax deed problems. Its services are available regardless of income, language or immigration status.

Early Resolution Program (ERP): free legal help for renters facing eviction, including connections to legal aid, mediation and other resources. Call (855) 956-5763, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

A lawyer or mediator can sometimes work out a payment agreement with your landlord, or connect you to CBRAP, before a judgment is entered.

Know This Before Anyone Tries to Remove You

The City of Chicago reminds renters that only the Sheriff can carry out an eviction. It is illegal for a landlord to try to remove you from your home on their own. If someone changes your locks, removes your belongings or shuts off your utilities to force you out, contact legal aid right away.

If You Could Lose Housing Tonight

The Illinois Department of Human Services advises:

Need shelter tonight in Chicago? Call 311 and ask for shelter.
Families: go to the Salvation Army Shield of Hope Center, 924 N. Christiana, Chicago, IL 60651, where walk-ins for families are allowed. If you cannot get there, call 311 and request shelter.
Outside Chicago, call 211 for a shelter referral or contact your local Continuum of Care.

A Practical Plan for This Week

Read every notice. Note whether you have a 5-day notice or an actual court summons.
If you have a court case, apply to CBRAP today and call the Early Resolution Program at (855) 956-5763.
Pay what you can and keep proof. Partial payments and receipts help in court and in mediation.
Build your document folder now: ID, lease, income proof, proof of the emergency, and your landlord's contact information. RAP and CBRAP ask for much of the same paperwork.
Check RAP's status page regularly so you can apply quickly if it reopens.
Go to court. Missing a hearing is the fastest way to lose a case you might have won or settled.