Free foreclosure help in Illinois

Who to call first, by situation

• You are not behind yet but expect to miss a payment

  Now, before you miss a payment

  Call your servicer and ask about hardship options. Illinois Housing Development Authority: Saving My Home explains free foreclosure prevention counseling and how to find a counselor who can review your budget and loan with you.

• You are behind but have not been served

  Before you are 120 days behind

  Complete your servicer's loss mitigation application with help from a HUD-approved counselor. You can also call the Illinois Attorney General: Home Ownership and Rental Issues (Homeowner Helpline) to learn about your options. In Cook County, the court directs homeowners who are worried but not yet in foreclosure to Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt.

• You were served with a foreclosure summons and complaint

  File within 30 days of being served

  Use Illinois Courts: Approved Statewide Forms for Mortgage Foreclosure to get the Appearance and Answer, or the free guided version at Illinois Legal Aid Online: Mortgage Foreclosure, which can also point you to free legal help. In Cook County, call the Circuit Court of Cook County: Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program to set up a free meeting with a housing counselor.

• Your case is in Winnebago or Boone County

  As soon as the case is filed

  The 17th Judicial Circuit Court: Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program (Winnebago and Boone counties) is free and voluntary. You opt in by completing an application on time, or you can file the court's motion asking for a referral to mediation.

• A sale date is set

  Immediately

  Get the Motion to Stay Foreclosure Sale forms from Illinois Courts: Approved Statewide Forms for Mortgage Foreclosure and tell the circuit clerk your sale date is near. Contact legal aid through Illinois Legal Aid Online: Mortgage Foreclosure, or find a licensed attorney through the Illinois State Bar Association: Illinois Lawyer Finder, which offers a 30-minute consultation for no more than $25 through its phone referral.

• Your servicer is not following the rules

  As soon as it happens; keep copies of everything

  File a complaint with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: File a Complaint (Banking), which covers mortgage companies, loan originators and state banks. You can also report a predatory lender to the Illinois Attorney General: Home Ownership and Rental Issues (Homeowner Helpline). If you have a court case, tell the judge too.

• A company or investor contacted you with an offer to save your home

  Before you sign or pay anything

  Under the Illinois Mortgage Rescue Fraud Act, a paid consultant cannot collect any fee until every promised service is done, and cannot take your deed or a power of attorney. Call the Illinois Attorney General: Home Ownership and Rental Issues (Homeowner Helpline) to report it, and have a legal aid lawyer or licensed attorney read any contract first.

  765 ILCS 940/50

Official and nonprofit help in Illinois

None of these charge homeowners for foreclosure help.

• Illinois Housing Development Authority: Saving My Home

  The state housing finance agency's page on free foreclosure prevention counseling, how to find a counselor, and how to avoid mortgage fraud.

  (312) 836-5200

• Illinois Attorney General: Home Ownership and Rental Issues (Homeowner Helpline)

  Explains your rights in foreclosure, has a Know Your Rights guide and a mortgage rescue fraud fact sheet, and lists the Homeowner Helpline.

  866-544-7151

• Illinois Legal Aid Online: Mortgage Foreclosure

  Free plain-language guides and guided court forms for foreclosure, plus a tool to find and apply for free legal help in your area.

• Illinois Courts: Approved Statewide Forms for Mortgage Foreclosure

  Official forms every Illinois court must accept, including the Appearance and Answer and the Motion to Stay Foreclosure Sale, with instructions.

• Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: File a Complaint (Banking)

  Takes complaints about mortgage companies, loan originators and state banks that the department regulates.

  217-785-2900

• Illinois State Bar Association: Illinois Lawyer Finder

  Search for a lawyer online or ask for a phone referral with a 30 minute consultation for no more than $25.

• Circuit Court of Cook County: Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program

  Cook County homeowners who have received a foreclosure summons can call to set up a free meeting with a housing counselor, the first step toward mediation.

  (855) 452-2637

• Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt

  Free legal help for Cook County residents facing foreclosure, eviction or debt cases, at no cost and regardless of income.

  (855) 956-5763

• 17th Judicial Circuit Court: Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program (Winnebago and Boone counties)

  Free, voluntary mediation for homeowners with a foreclosure case filed in Winnebago or Boone County, with forms to ask the court for a referral.

  815-319-4995

Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF), Illinois Housing Development Authority

ILHAF is closed. The State of Illinois reports that the program began taking applications on April 11, 2022 and closed on October 31, 2023. The U.S. Treasury also says the period for all HAF awards ended on September 30, 2026. The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) still points homeowners to free foreclosure prevention counseling on its Saving My Home page. Separately, the Illinois Department of Revenue describes the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program, which lets qualifying homeowners age 65 and older put off property taxes on their main home; the deferred taxes become a lien and must be repaid with interest. You apply through your county treasurer's office. We did not find any state emergency mortgage payment program that is open today.

Check the program’s current status

Common questions in Illinois