Where Can I Get Rent Assistance or Eviction Help in Illinois?
These organizations help renters anywhere in Illinois. Most are free. Each entry says what the group does, who it serves, and how to reach it. Start with Illinois Legal Aid Online if you do not know where to go.
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Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO) is a free website with plain-language legal information and court forms. Its Get Legal Help tool asks about your problem, your zip code, and your income. Then it sends you to the legal aid office that covers your area. Start at illinoislegalaid.org/get-legal-help.
✓ Details checked September 14, 2026
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Prairie State Legal Services gives free legal help to low-income people in 36 counties in northern and central Illinois. It handles housing cases, including evictions and fair housing. It has 11 offices, including Rockford, Peoria, Joliet, Waukegan, and West Chicago. Apply online through Illinois Legal Aid Online or call (815) 965-2134.
✓ Details checked September 14, 2026
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Land of Lincoln Legal Aid gives free civil legal help to low-income people and seniors in central and southern Illinois. Housing law is one of its main practice areas. Call the Legal Advice and Referral Center at (877) 342-7891 or apply online at lincolnlegal.org. Interpreters are available.
✓ Details checked September 14, 2026
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Legal Aid Chicago gives free civil legal help to low-income people in Chicago and suburban Cook County. It runs eviction help desks in court. Call 312-341-1070 or apply online through Illinois Legal Aid Online. It does not take requests by email.
✓ Details checked September 14, 2026
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Illinois Court Help is a free service from the Illinois courts for people without a lawyer. Court guides explain how to file papers, find your courthouse, and attend court by phone or video. They do not give legal advice. Call or text (833) 411-1121, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., or visit ilcourthelp.gov.
✓ Details checked September 8, 2026
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The Illinois Attorney General Consumer Fraud Bureau takes complaints about scams and unfair business practices. It says it has no authority over most landlord and tenant disputes. It can still point you to legal aid and publishes a landlord and tenant rights fact sheet. Call 1-800-386-5438 (Chicago), 1-800-243-0618 (Springfield), 1-800-243-0607 (Carbondale), or 1-866-310-8398 in Spanish.
✓ Details checked September 14, 2026
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The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) investigates housing discrimination. It covers race, disability, family status, source of income (including vouchers), immigration status, and other protected groups. You must file within 1 year (365 days) of the last act of discrimination. Fill out the Fair Housing complaint form and email it to IDHR.FairHousing@illinois.gov.
✓ Details checked September 8, 2026
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The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) ran a court-based rental assistance (money to help pay rent) program for renters in eviction court. As of September 2026 that program is closed to new applications. Check ihda.org for new rounds. If you face eviction now, IHDA says to contact legal aid or a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. Find a counselor at hud.gov/findacounselor or call 800-569-4287.
✓ Details checked September 14, 2026
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The Illinois Department of Human Services Emergency and Transitional Housing Program pays local shelters. The shelters house people who are homeless or about to lose their home. Shelters offer overnight beds, longer stays up to 2 years, and hotel vouchers when shelters are full. Call the IDHS Help Line at 1-800-843-6154 to find a provider near you.
✓ Details checked September 12, 2026
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LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) helps low-income households pay heating and other energy bills. The state sets the income limit each year, and it cannot be more than 60% of the state median income. For example, 60% of a $100,000 median income is $60,000. Apply through the local agency for your county. Call the Help Illinois Families line at 1-833-711-0374 or visit dceo.illinois.gov.
✓ Details checked September 14, 2026
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211 Illinois is a free, confidential helpline open 24 hours a day. It refers you to local help with housing, shelter, utility bills, food, and health care. Call 211 from any phone, or text your zip code to 898211.
✓ Details checked September 14, 2026
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The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) Consumer Services Division handles complaints about gas, electric, and water utilities that it regulates. Its counselors work with the utility to fix billing and service problems, usually within 1 to 14 days. If you got a shutoff notice, call instead of filing online: 1-800-524-0795, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Spanish-speaking counselors are available.
✓ Details checked September 12, 2026
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Equip for Equality is the federally designated protection and advocacy organization for people with disabilities in Illinois. It gives free legal help with disability discrimination, including housing and reasonable accommodations (changes a landlord must make so you can use your home). It cannot take every case. Call 800-537-2632 or email ContactUs@equipforequality.org. Staff reply within 3 business days.
✓ Details checked September 14, 2026
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The Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Finder refers you to a private lawyer if you do not qualify for free legal aid. The first 30-minute meeting costs no more than $25. After that you and the lawyer agree on fees. Call 217-525-5297, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., or search online at isba.org.
✓ Details checked September 14, 2026
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