© 2025 WGLT
A public service of Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

City of Bloomington Township resumes housing relief program

Sign in front of a building that reads '607 Township Center, City of Bloomington Township' on snowy lawn
Eric Stock
/
WGLT
The City of Bloomington Township is offering $150,000 in housing assistance.

The City of Bloomington Township has announced the reimplementation of a housing eviction relief program.

This effort, known as the Housing Eviction Relief Efforts [HERE] Program, would apply to eligible residents who live in Bloomington. It will help to “fill the gap in the community" with residents who are behind on rent, their mortgage or utilities, according to City of Bloomington Township Supervisor Deb Skillrud.

Closeup of Deb Skillrud
courtesy
Deb Skillrud from the City of Bloomington Township.

“If you’re late on rental assistance and/or utilities, you’re going to get a disconnect at some point or be evicted, so this program has been set up through the township to just help alleviate the crises that people are in and get them to reset their position so they can kind of move forward,” Skillrud said.

The HERE program can be utilized by those who may not completely qualify for financial aid through the Township General Assistance or Emergency Assistance Program offerings. Aid can be provided for residential property taxes and property insurance, those in need of rent, mortgage or utility assistance.

Each family or individual in need will be allowed a maximum of $3,000 in assistance until the end of the fiscal year on March 31, 2025.

HERE was first implemented following the COVID-19 pandemic. Skillrud said the program is being brought up again due to inflation spikes over the past year.

“We’ve seen another increase in the need for additional funds than what township can provide through our general assistance and emergency assistance program,” Skillrud said.

Another reason for the resurfacing of the program is to fill needs a gap that occurred when the Bloomington nonprofit Mid Central Community Action [MCCA] circulated a memo indicating that its community service block grant funds had expired.

According to Skillrud, the township plans to spend $150,000 to help bring relief to those in housing crises.

“We’re going with that amount because it had already been budgeted for it,” Skillrud said. “I wouldn’t anticipate any change in the approval of renewing it for another year."

Paul J. Aguilar is a student reporter at WGLT who attends Illinois State University.