The City of Galesburg has successfully completed several housing rehabilitation grants and continues to complete a large lead remediation housing grant as well. The City of Galesburg works in partnership with Western Illinois Regional Council(WIRC) to fully implement these grants.
WIRC Additional Programs
In addition to partnering with the City of Galesburg with past grant programs, WIRC also is an administrator of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP. Through grant funds, LIHEAP provides one-time benefits to income-eligible households for assistance with their energy bills. About LIHEAP, provides further details on the program and application process. Additionally, WIRC-Community Action Agency (WIRC-CAA) offers a variety of social service programs that are partially funded by the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. These programs are designed to help income-eligible people in need. Supplies and/or financial assistance are also provided to partner agencies and food pantries on a case-by-case basis. The currently offered CSBG programs are available to qualifying residents of Hancock, Henderson, McDonough, Knox, and Warren counties in western Illinois.
Available Housing Grant Programs
Illinois Housing Development Authority’s (IHDA) Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP)
The waiting list for this grant is currently closed and not accepting applications. This page will be updated if the waiting list reopens.
The purpose of this grant is to assist low and very low income homeowners address code violations, and health and safety concerns. Income-eligible homeowners may receive up to $50,000 in financial assistance. There is a roof-only option which will allow grantees to address roof-related repairs for homes that do not have significant interior health and safety issues, or accessibility needs. The funding limit for those projects will be $25,000. As well, the benefitting structures must be existing residential properties privately owned and used as the owner’s sole residence.
All recipients of this grant cannot exceed the income limit, which is defined by a household's total income being less than 80% of the Area Median Income, which can be found at this link.
IHDA has expanded this grant to include accessibility issues. For accessibility projects, all properties must be an existing residential property that is tenant- or owner-occupied and must have a documented need for accessibility modifications. The owner or the owner’s tenant must be a senior citizen (over 60 years of age ) with a physical limitation, or a resident within the home must be a disabled person (with a physical or mental impairment). There is a limit of $50,000 for these projects as well.
The City is working with Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC) in coordinating this grant and will be able to rehabilitate approximately 10 to 12 single family homes. Darrin Taflinger, the program administrator, can be contacted at darrin@wirpc.org or 309-837-2997 for more information.
Below are examples of past work completed.
Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus Program (CDBG-CV) for Healthy Houses
This grant is currently accepting applications! Please call the Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC) at (309) 837-2997 and ask for Darren Taflinger, or send him an email. He will discuss the eligibility criteria and application process with you.
The program is meant to assist landlords in replacing the HVAC systems in rental properties, with 6 units or less, occupied by low-to-moderate income (LMI) tenants. A majority of units in a project must be occupied by LMI tenants, which is defined by a unit's total income being less than 80% of the Area Median Income, which can be found at this link.
The City is working with Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC) in coordinating this grant. Darrin Taflinger, the program administrator, can be contacted at darrin@wirpc.org or 309-837-2997 for more information.