Cook County Extends Deadline and Expands Eligibility for $15 Million Homeowner Relief Fund

COOK COUNTY, IL–Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Commissioner Bridget Gainer announced the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund has expanded its eligibility requirements and extended its deadline to Oct. 31, 2025. The $15 million program will assist homeowners who have experienced a substantial increase in property taxes in recent years. Selected recipients will receive $1,000 in one-time assistance.

To qualify for the program, Cook County homeowners must have experienced a property tax increase of at least 30% (lowered from the previous threshold of 50%) in the 2021, 2022 or 2023 tax years. They must also have a household income at or below 100% of the County’s Area Median Income. Applicants must also occupy the property as their primary residence.

“We want to ensure as many eligible Cook County households as possible are able to apply for this measure of relief,” said President Preckwinkle. “While the Homeowner Relief Fund is just one part of our broader effort to advance system-wide property tax reforms, our priority is to make sure the available program funds make it into the hands of our residents.”

"The Homeowner Relief Fund is the culmination of over a year of outreach, research and policy advocacy that will allow us to provide relief to homeowners in need of a lifeline as we work towards sustainable property tax relief," said Commissioner Bridget Gainer. "I'm proud to have made this critical program a reality to keep families in their homes and neighborhoods and protect their greatest asset to build wealth: homeownership."

Homeowners who have already applied for the Homeowner Relief Fund program do not need to reapply. All previously submitted applications will be reviewed under the expanded eligibility requirement. 

The program, which launched on Sept. 29, 2025, will provide immediate relief to residents as Cook County continues to pursue long-term property tax reform efforts at the state and local levels. These broader efforts are being led by the Cook County Property Tax Reform Group (PTAX), which includes the separately elected offices that make up the property tax system, as the County works to identify and advance system-wide reforms.

Community-based organizations located throughout the County are also available to assist interested applicants. Support is available in multiple languages.

The Homeowner Relief Fund is part of the County’s broader effort to make homeownership more affordable for all residents. Other programs include the Cook County Modular Homes Pilot Program and the Cook County Down Payment Assistance Program. The County also supports programs such as Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt and 211 Metro Chicago to assist residents facing financial hardship.  

For more information on the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund, visit cookcountyil.gov/service/cook-county-homeowner-relief-fund.