Eviction Mitigation Legal Assistance Program

The Illinois Department of Human Services, through Family and Community Services - Office of Housing Stability, is offering the competitive Eviction Mitigation Legal Assistance Program. The program supports a coordinated statewide approach to eviction prevention and housing stability in Illinois. It is intended to expand tenants' access to legal assistance, mediation, and housing resources so that households at risk of eviction and homelessness can remain safely housed. The program emphasizes early intervention and coordination among legal aid providers, mediation organizations, courts, rental assistance programs, and community-based partners, while advancing equitable access to services across Illinois, including historically underserved regions. The funded grantee will implement a statewide housing legal assistance program in partnership with legal aid and mediation agency subrecipients. Strategies may include centralized intake and needs assessment, eviction prevention tools and resources, Know Your Rights events, virtual and in-person legal clinics, direct legal representation, mediation, and connections to rental assistance. Required deliverables include operating three statewide access points consisting of a single hotline telephone number, a website/chatbot, and a text channel; providing legal services to Illinois residents facing housing insecurity due to eviction; providing mediation services in partnership with Illinois courts, IHDA, and other stakeholders; and connecting households with rental assistance, Court-Based Rental Assistance, and other homelessness prevention resources. The grantee must also manage partnerships and monitor the fiscal and programmatic performance, expenditures, service delivery, service locations, populations served, and statewide reach of subrecipients. The Department expects approximately $5,000,000 in State funding and anticipates approximately one award. The detailed funding section states that the anticipated individual award will range from $2,500,000 to $7,500,000, although the Basic Information table separately lists a range of $2,500,000 to $7,000,000. No cost sharing or matching contribution is required. Indirect costs are allowed and must be supported by an applicable negotiated indirect cost rate or an allowable de minimis election through the State's indirect cost process; grantees may also elect not to claim indirect costs. Pre-award costs may be allowable subject to IDHS Budget Committee discretion, review, and prior approval and must be identified in the Uniform Grant Budget Narrative. Subrecipient agreements and budgets require Department pre-approval. Grant costs are governed by applicable requirements including 2 CFR Part 200 and 30 ILCS 708. Eligible applicants are Not for Profit Community Based Organizations and Government Entities. Applicants must satisfy State registration and prequalification requirements by the application due date, including applicable Grantee Portal requirements, an active SAM.gov registration, a valid Unique Entity Identifier, good standing with the Illinois Secretary of State when applicable, and clearance from applicable exclusion, stop-payment, and sanctions lists. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to advance coordinated statewide eviction prevention, align housing, legal, and human services systems, promote equitable access, collaborate with legal aid providers, courts, mediation partners and community organizations, administer funds to support sustainable eviction-prevention infrastructure, track performance outcomes, and comply with State and federal financial management, reporting, and monitoring requirements. Applications must contain the Program Narrative, Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance, Grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure, and an electronically entered, signed, and submitted Uniform Grant Budget in the CSA system. Narrative components include a one-page Executive Summary, Capacity/Agency Qualifications of up to three pages, Community Identification/Description of Need of up to three pages, Quality/Description of Program Services, Design and Implementation of up to five pages, and a Budget and Costs Justification Narrative of up to two pages. The complete application must be emailed to dhs.ohs.keyprojects@illinois.gov with the NOFO number and agency name in the subject line. Applications sent to other email addresses or delivered by fax, hard copy, disk, or thumb drive will not be considered. Applicants that do not receive confirmation must notify the Department within 48 hours of the deadline. Eligible applications proceed to merit review by a committee of at least three IDHS subject matter experts. Scoring consists of Executive Summary, 5 points; Capacity/Agency Qualifications, 30 points; Community Identification/Description of Need, 10 points; Quality/Description of Program Services, Design and Implementation, 45 points; and Budget and Cost Justification, 10 points. The Department may also consider factors such as demonstrated need and past performance. Performance expectations include a standard that at least 70 percent of households receiving legal representation or mediation avoid an eviction judgment. The source contains conflicting final application dates: the Basic Information and Key Dates sections identify June 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST, while the Submission Dates and Times section identifies May 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST. Both dates have passed as of August 10, 2026, and the discrepancy should be verified against the controlling NOFO before database publication. The anticipated award date and start date are July 1, 2026. Subject to appropriation, the initial performance period runs from no earlier than July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Successful applicants may be eligible for two subsequent one-year grant renewals at the Department's discretion, subject to sufficient appropriations and satisfactory performance, timely reporting, continued prequalification, and absence of outstanding corrective actions or similar issues. Renewal eligibility does not establish a recurring application cycle for new applicants. Program questions and technical submission issues may be directed to Shawna Sepich at Shawna.Sepich2@illinois.gov or 217-299-7437. Questions submitted up to 10 business days before the end of the NOFO posting period are to be posted with answers on the DHS website.

Prioritize the Quality/Description of Program Services, Design and Implementation section because it carries 45 points and Capacity/Agency Qualifications because it carries 30 points. Demonstrate credible statewide coverage, including historically underserved regions, strong coordination among legal aid, courts, mediation and housing partners, and a plan capable of meeting the 70% eviction-judgment avoidance standard. Tie every proposed cost to program objectives and deliverables and confirm all mandatory documents and the signed CSA budget are submitted because IDHS will not contact applicants for missing required items.