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PROPOSED GRANT AWARD
Department: Office of Economic Development
Grantee: Bureau of Economic Development, Cook County
Grantor: State of Illinois, Department of Human Services
Request: Authorization to accept an Illinois Department of Human Services Grant
Purpose: The Illinois Department of Human Services has awarded the Bureau of Economic Development (BED) a $1,577,048 grant for Court Based Legal Assistance. The funding will support the eviction component of the County’s Legal Aid for Housing and Debt program, including legal consultations, mediation, settlements, and referrals to rental assistance and extended legal representation, where applicable.
Grant Amount: $1,577,048.00
Grant Period: 3/1/2025 - 6/30/2025
Fiscal Impact: $1,577,048 in FY25
Accounts: Cash match of $788,524 from 11286.1027.60317.580170.
Concurrences:
The Budget Department has received all requisite documents and determined the fiscal impact on Cook County, if any
Summary: In January 2025, the Bureau of Economic Development (BED), applied for an award of $1,577,048, the maximum allowable amount, through the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Court Based Legal Assistance grant program. On March 7, 2025, BED received the attached Notice of State Award, awarding the full amount, and expects to receive approval of funds by April 2025.
These funds will support the ongoing Early Resolution Program (ERP) services provided by The Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF) as a part of Cook County’s Legal Aid for Housing and Debt program (CCLAHD). The ERP provides Cook County tenants and small landlords robust court-based eviction early resolution services. Through ERP, residents can access legal advice and brief legal services, including document drafting and settlement negotiation, mediation, settlement review, connections to rental assistance, and referrals to extended legal representation.
BED respectfully requests approval to accept the IDHS Court Based Legal Assistance grant, and that the Bureau Chief of Economic Development or his/her designee be authorized to execute, on behalf of the County of Cook, any and all documents necessary to further the approval herein, including but not limited to, the grant agreement with IDHS.
$1,540,276 of the IDHS funding will support subrecipient The CBF’s costs to implement the ERP program. The remaining budget of $36,772 will be utilized for BED personnel and indirect costs associated with managing the grant. This grant requires a 50% match by Cook County. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds previously authorized by the Board of Commissioners, sub-awarded to The CBF, and spent on CCLAHD ERP will serve as the match. The awarded funds will be expended during the IDHS grant term of March 1 through June 30, 2025.
BED’s Office of Economic Development has previously received approval for the funding of the Early Resolution Program as a component of Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt program (CCLAHD). Resolution 22-2807 authorized the Bureau of Economic Development to enter into a Subrecipient Agreement with the Chicago Bar Foundation to implement the CCLAHD program using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Resolutions 24-2131, 24-5102, and 25-0523 each authorized BED to amend the subrecipient agreement with The Chicago Bar Foundation to increase the total funding to continue their implementation of CCLAHD. Through board resolution 25-1901, BED is simultaneously requesting authorization to amend The CBF’s subrecipient agreement to add $1,540,276 in state funds.
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