Signed by Governor Pat Quinn

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill establishing a homeowner's emergency assistance program.

Highlights:

-Authorizes the Illinois Housing Development Authority to issue grants to residents of Illinois eligible for assistance (Sec. 5). -Requires those homeowners receiving assistance from the Illinois Housing Development Authority to receive counseling from a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) certified housing counseling agency (Sec. 5). -Prohibits any homeowner from receiving assistance under the Emergency Homeowner's Assistance Program unless the following requirements are met (Sec. 15):

-The property securing the mortgage is the homeowner's primary residence; -The homeowner is a resident of Illinois and his or her property is being foreclosed due to failure to make mortgage payments; -The lender agrees to halt foreclosure proceedings upon notification that the homeowner has been approved for assistance; -The homeowner's income is less than 120 percent of area median income as determined by HUD; -The mortgage lender agrees to renegotiate in good faith the terms of the mortgage upon notification that the homeowner has been approved for assistance; -The homeowner has attended a HUD-certified counseling session; -The borrower is a resident of Illinois; -The homeowner agrees to defend and indemnify and hold harmless the Authority from and against any and all damages arising out of the Authority's payment on behalf of the borrower; and -The lender agrees to defend and indemnify and hold harmless the Authority from and against any and all damages arising out of the Authority's payment on behalf of the borrower.

-Requires that for all payments made on behalf of homeowners approved for assistance under the Emergency Homeowner's Assistance Program, the Authority pay directly to the lender (Sec. 20). -Requires that assistance given to any homeowner be no more than $6,000 or the sum of 3 monthly mortgage payments, whichever is less (Sec. 20). -Specifies that any assistance given under the Emergency Homeowner's Assistance Program will come from funds appropriated by the general assembly specifically for the Program, and that assistance is only to be given when the Program has funds currently available (Sec. 25). -Prohibits the total amount of grants issued under the Emergency Homeowner's Assistance Program from exceeding $3 million in a calendar year (Sec. 25). -Specifies that the act will be effective upon passage, and that it will be repealed on January 1, 2011 (Sec. 30 and 99).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill establishing a homeowner's emergency assistance program.

Highlights:

-Authorizes the Illinois Housing Development Authority to issue grants to residents of Illinois eligible for assistance (Sec. 5). -Requires those homeowners receiving assistance from the Illinois Housing Development Authority to receive counseling from a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) certified housing counseling agency (Sec. 5). -Prohibits any homeowner from receiving assistance under the Emergency Homeowner's Assistance Program unless the following requirements are met (Sec. 15):

-The property securing the mortgage is the homeowner's primary residence; -The homeowner is a resident of Illinois and his or her property is being foreclosed due to failure to make mortgage payments; -The lender agrees to halt foreclosure proceedings upon notification that the homeowner has been approved for assistance; -The homeowner's income is less than 120 percent of area median income as determined by HUD; -The mortgage lender agrees to renegotiate in good faith the terms of the mortgage upon notification that the homeowner has been approved for assistance; -The homeowner has attended a HUD-certified counseling session; -The borrower is a resident of Illinois; -The homeowner agrees to defend and indemnify and hold harmless the Authority from and against any and all damages arising out of the Authority's payment on behalf of the borrower; and -The lender agrees to defend and indemnify and hold harmless the Authority from and against any and all damages arising out of the Authority's payment on behalf of the borrower.

-Requires that for all payments made on behalf of homeowners approved for assistance under the Emergency Homeowner's Assistance Program, the Authority pay directly to the lender (Sec. 20). -Requires that assistance given to any homeowner be no more than $6,000 or the sum of 3 monthly mortgage payments, whichever is less (Sec. 20). -Specifies that any assistance given under the Emergency Homeowner's Assistance Program will come from funds appropriated by the general assembly specifically for the Program, and that assistance is only to be given when the Program has funds currently available (Sec. 25). -Prohibits the total amount of grants issued under the Emergency Homeowner's Assistance Program from exceeding $3 million in a calendar year (Sec. 25). -Specifies that the act will be effective upon passage, and that it will be repealed on January 1, 2011 (Sec. 30 and 99).

Full Bill Text