Support Illinois House Bill 5170
The bill is on pause.
HB 5170 · Paused for 2026 — returning next session
The need for it isn't.
The Senior Home Preservation Program Act was tabled for the rest of this legislative session. We’re using the break to grow our coalition, so the bill hits the ground running when Springfield reconvenes.
What HB 5170 Does
ILHB 5170, The Senior Home Preservation Program Act, would fund repair grants of up to $40,000 per home.
Grants cover safety, code, and accessibility repairs for low-income senior homeowners who have lived in their homes for at least 10 years.
Senior Home Preservation Program Act
$22M
Proposed appropriation over three years
3 yrs
Length of the pilot program
$40K
Maximum grant per home
550+
Homes served at the maximum grant
2 Programs
Home repairs, plus paid training for repair workers
IDHS
The Illinois Department of Human Services runs the program through local delegate agencies
Subject to appropriations. The program starts in select regions and is expected to expand statewide. The 550 figure assumes every project reaches the $40,000 cap. Most will cost less, so the program can reach more homes.
Repairs The Bill Covers
Four repair categories covered by the Senior Home Preservation Program.
Grants flow through trusted local delegate agencies to keep longtime senior homeowners safe, housed, and up to code.
Who The Bill Helps
HB 5170 helps longtime senior homeowners on fixed incomes whose homes need repairs they can no longer afford. It lets them age safely in the homes they love.
To qualify for grants, applicants must meet three criteria pertaining to The Senior Home Preservation Program Act.
Ten years in the home
The applicant has lived in the home for at least 10 years. It can be a single-family house or a building of up to four units, as long as it’s their primary residence.
Why it matters: The 10-year requirement keeps the focus on longtime homeowners. It excludes recent buyers, investors, and rental owners.
Head of household must be age 62 or older
Age is measured for the head of household. Homeowners with a disability qualify at 55.
Why it matters: Repairs get harder to manage and costlier to hire out just as income stops growing.
At or below 80% of area median income
Income is measured against the local median rather than one statewide figure, so the limit reflects local cost of living.
Why it's matters: Grants go to homeowners who have no other way to pay for critical repairs.
Fixing Homes. Building Careers.
Grant dollars repair houses and train the people who do the work. The program funds cash stipends and pre-apprenticeship training. It also connects trainees with committed employer partners in the census tracts hit hardest by unemployment and underemployment.