State Senator Celina Villanueva is encouraging local homeowners to take advantage of assistance offered by the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund. “This is a resource that will keep our community members in their homes by helping them avoid debt and even foreclosure in extreme cases,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “I encourage all eligible homeowners to apply for this opportunity and receive the support they need.” The ILHAF program is providing free assistance of up to $30,000 to homeowners who have outstanding housing payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This relief is meant to cover the costs of past-due mortgage payments, property taxes, property insurance and other late expenses. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31. These services can be found at www.illinoishousinghelp.org or by calling 866-454-3571. These and other resources on the Illinois Housing Development Authority website are available in both English and Spanish.