West Cook News

Cook County officials have announced the launch of a $15 million Homeowner Relief Fund aimed at assisting residents who have faced significant increases in property taxes. The fund, introduced by Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Commissioner Bridget Gainer, will provide selected homeowners with a one-time payment of $1,000. Applications for the program are open until October 10, 2025.

The initiative is part of Cook County’s ongoing efforts to address property tax challenges while working toward broader reforms at both state and local levels. These reform efforts are being coordinated by the Cook County Property Tax Reform Group (PTAX), which brings together various elected offices involved in the county’s property tax system.

“It has been a priority for us to support as many homeowners as possible with a measure of relief,” said President 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.”

Commissioner Gainer highlighted the work leading up to this program: "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," she said. "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."

Gainer’s office conducted extensive engagement with residents through meetings and workshops before commissioning research from the University of Chicago Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation. This research confirmed that fluctuations in property taxes affect communities across Cook County. Following these findings, Gainer held a public hearing on property tax relief and secured approval for the Homeowner Relief Fund within the 2025 county budget.

To be eligible for assistance, applicants must own and occupy their home as their primary residence in Cook County and must have experienced an increase in property taxes of at least 50% during any one year between 2021 and 2023. Additionally, household income must not exceed 100% of the county's Area Median Income—for example, $119,900 for a family of four.

The Homeowner Relief Fund complements other initiatives designed to make homeownership more accessible in Cook County. These include programs such as the Modular Homes Pilot Program and Down Payment Assistance Program. The county also backs services like Legal Aid for Housing and Debt as well as 211 Metro Chicago for those facing financial difficulties.

AidKit, Inc., has been appointed administrator for this fund; it will manage applications via its website, provide applicant support, review submissions, and distribute payments.

Applicants will go through two phases: an initial phase requiring basic information followed by submission of documents verifying eligibility if selected for further review. If demand exceeds available funds, recipients will be chosen through a lottery managed by AidKit alongside the Bureau of Economic Development.

More details about eligibility requirements or how to apply can be found on Cook County’s official website: cookcountyil.gov/service/cook-county-homeowner-relief-fund.