The Circuit Court of Cook County created the Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program to provide free help from housing counselors and attorneys to homeowners who have received a foreclosure summons. Using funds from Cook County, The Chicago Community Trust will award $225,000 in community outreach grants for six months. Funding will be awarded to promote face-to-face outreach through which a homeowner who has received a foreclosure summons (1) learns about the Program from a reputed, well-informed source, (2) is referred to the Program Helpline and (3) receives a follow-up visit or a phone call to verify that he or she has engaged with the Program.
Outreach providers must accurately communicate to homeowners basic information about the Program, including eligibility criteria, main deadlines, how to access resources and make an appointment via the Program's Helpline, and documents/paperwork needed in advance of the first appointment with a counselor.
Applicants must demonstrate how the strategies/activities proposed will increase the percentage of homeowners who seek assistance when their homes are in foreclosure.
Eligibility
- Must be a qualified 501(c)(3), as defined by the Internal Revenue Service Code, or have a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that will serve as the fiscal agent for the grant
- Must serve residents of Cook County, Illinois
Grant Amounts
- Up to $30,000 for six months
- Grant renewal is subject to the Cook County Board renewing funding for outreach activities, and the Court renewing its contract with the Trust
Application Deadlines
Applications are no longer currently being accepted. Grants will be awarded in May 2010.
How to Apply
If you wish to attend, you must pre-register by sending your organization's name and the name(s) of those (no more than two people) who will attend to by April 16, 2010.
Complete proposals will consist of: (1) a completed cover sheet, (2) a narrative that responds to questions in the application, (3) budget information as requested, and (4) required attachments. Complete details are found in the application form. The completed application form must be sent to by 5:00 p.m. on April 30, 2010.
Learn More
Additional information about the Community Outreach Grants can be found in the Request for Proposals.
To learn more about the foreclosure crisis in our region, please visit www.regionalhopi.org.
