• Resident of Kankakee County

Don’t live in Kankakee County? Use this link to find housing counseling services closer to you: https://answers.hud.gov/housingcounseling/s/?language=en_US

Applicable to all types of counseling:

• Driver License and/or State ID
• Paystubs (most recent and consecutive for the last 30 days)
• Other income: Social Security / Disability benefits, Unemployment, Child Support (if applicable)
• Utility bills: Gas, Water, Electricity, Phone/Cable, and other Credit Card bills
• Bank Statements (all pages, most recent and for the past 2 months)
• Tax returns for the past 2 years (including W2s and all schedules)

Other Documents (if applicable):

• If self-employed: Profit and Loss Statement (3 months min, with accompanying bank statements)
• If a homeowner: Mortgage statement and loan documents (Deed, Note, and Settlement documents), Hardship letter explaining reason you are late on payments
• If a homebuyer: Pre-approval letter from your lender (only if you have been pre-approved)
• If a renter: Rental or lease agreement

Pre-Purchase Homebuyer Education Workshop - Attendees will receive information on topics that will prepare the prospective homebuyer to make informed home purchase decisions. Clients also receive important material on home inspection, pre-foreclosure, and any other homeownership topic relevant to successfully maintaining a home. A Certification of Completion is issued upon completing the workshop. For additional one-on-one assistance, you can schedule a personalized session with a counselor.
Learn more about the roles of the professionals involved in the home buying process from choosing a home, to learning about down payment assistance programs. Meet lenders, realtors, inspectors, insurance agents, and attorney.

To be announced.

Pre-purchase Counseling - Clients receive comprehensive one-on-one counseling, which covers the entire homebuying process from beginning to end. Counselors assist their clients with creating a sustainable budget/spending plan for their current household situation, and a clear action plan is developed to achieve the overall goal of homeownership. Clients also receive important material on home inspection, pre-foreclosure, and any other homeownership topic relevant to successfully maintaining a home.

Rental Topics – During one-on-one sessions, the counselor will review topics and help identify goals as necessary for the client’s own financial situation. Topics may include: helping clients identify affordable rental units, providing information on tenant rights and fair housing issues, counseling on household budgeting and good rental practices, and connecting clients with additional community resources as appropriate.

Homelessness Assistance - During one-on-one sessions, the counselor will review topics and help identify goals as necessary for the client’s own financial situation. Topics may include: navigating local homeless service systems, helping clients identify affordable rental units, providing information on tenant rights and fair housing issues, counseling on household budgeting, and connecting clients with additional community resources as appropriate.