Who is Eligible for Assistance

To qualify for assistance the household must reside in the target area (with the exception of lead-poisoned children), meet certain income guidelines, and must have children under the age of 6 who reside in the home or visit the home on a regular basis.

In most cases, eligibility is also restricted to households currently involved in an existing housing rehabilitation programs operated by the City or its one of its Partners. The exception to this includes cases referred by the Health Department and rental units.

Are Rental Units Eligible for Assistance?

Owners of Rental Properties are encouraged to apply for assistance. Assistance to Rental Property Owners participating in the Healthy Homes Program will be provided as a 0% interest forgivable loan for a term of five years. If the owner is still meeting with the guidelines of the Healthy Homes program after 5 years, the loan will be forgiven. The following guidelines apply:

1. 50% of the units must be occupied by or made available to tenants at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and all remaining units must be occupied by or made available to tenants at or below 80% AMI and;
   
   
2. Participating owners must give priority in renting units assisted for not less than 3 years to income qualifying families with a child under age six.
   
   
3. Buildings with five or more units may have 20% of the units occupied by families with incomes above 80% of the AMI.
   
   

What is the Process for Applying?

• Households with lead-poisoned children will be referred to the program by the County Health Department.
  
  
• If enrolled in a housing program operated by the City of Rock Island, the City of Moline, Project NOW or the Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation, you will be automatically be considered for this program if eligibility criteria are met.
  
  
• If you are not currently enrolled in a housing rehabilitation program, you may contact the City of Rock Island Lead Program Manager for more information.