Federal grant money recently became available through the Illinois “IKE” Disaster Recovery Program, to potentially assist Skokie homeowners who have damage remaining from the September 13 and 14, 2008 severe rain storms and flooding. The grant funds will be awarded through a competitively based process.

Qualifications for assistance include:
• Homeowner must have already applied for FEMA disaster assistance.
• Home must be a single-family unit structure.
• Home must have a minimum of $10,000 worth of damage caused by the September 13 and 14, 2008 storms/flooding and/or in need of sewage backflow prevention device or overhead sewer.
• Home must be the homeowner’s primary residence at the time of the disaster through the present.
• Household must be considered low- or moderate-income
Family size:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Household income:
41,900, 47,900, 53,900, 59,850, 64,650, 69,450, 74,250, 79,050

Funding could be used for rehabilitation work, including sewage backflow prevention devices, overhead sewers, siding, roofing, paint stabilization and exterior/interior construction work needed from damage caused during the September 13 and 14, 2008 storms and flooding.

To apply, Skokie homeowners must complete a Homeowners Pre-Application Form available online at www.skokie.org. Applications are also available at Skokie Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street or the Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton Street. Initial applications are due to the Village of Skokie Manager’s Office, 5127 Oakton Street by January 31, 2012. This application process is preliminary in nature and will be reviewed by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. This is a competitive process in which Skokie’s needs will be compared with other communities. If Skokie is selected as a recipient community, individual grants will be competitively evaluated.

For additional information, please call 847/933-8210.