Homeowners have until Friday, Oct. 10, to apply for the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund, a $15 million program that 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.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 10.
The program 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.
To qualify for the program, Cook County homeowners must have experienced a property tax increase of at least 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. For example, for a household of four, the area median income is $119,900.
Applicants must also occupy the property as their primary residence.
The application process includes two phases. In the first, applicants must provide basic personal and demographic information. Successful applications will move to the second phase, which requires submitting documents to verify eligibility. Depending on the number of eligible applications received, a lottery system will be used to select applicants, with payments issued shortly after.
“It has been a priority for us to support as many homeowners as possible with a measure of relief,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “This is part of a broader effort that advances system-wide property tax reforms. In addition, we’re continuing to develop policies that help residents at every stage of the housing continuum, from emergency shelter to homeownership.”
“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.”
After hundreds of meetings and workshops with homeowners, Gainer and her team commissioned research with the University of Chicago Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation to confirm that property tax volatility is a countywide issue. The Homeowner Relief Fund passed as part of the 2025 County budget.
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.
