Services
Senior Rainbow Assistance Program offers assistance for basic necessities and mortgage/rent assistance. Applications for services are accepted as funding becomes available.
* An application may also be accepted if the LGBTQ applicant is 18-54 years old and has been affected by COVID-19 as stated above. Applications by LGBTQ adults over 18 with verified job loss due to COVID-19 will be given priority for housing aid above applications without job loss due to COVID-19.
- Minimum age 55*
- Must identify as gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual or queer.
- Applicants must be Illinois residents with a minimum residency requirement of six months prior to application.
- Applicant will be required to provide documentation to assist in assessing financial need.
- Applicants may only receive assistance from one program in a 12-month period from initial program approval date.
- Must have a demonstrated financial need OR meets one of the following criteria
- Loss of employment
- Death in the family of wage earner
- Costly medical condition
- Verified job loss due to COVID-19
* An application may also be accepted if the LGBTQ applicant is 18-54 years old and has been affected by COVID-19 as stated above. Applications by LGBTQ adults over 18 with verified job loss due to COVID-19 will be given priority for housing aid above applications without job loss due to COVID-19.
Basic Necessities Program
Many seniors need to decide between paying for medications or either for basic necessities or their mortgage/rent. Senior Rainbow wants to help ease this choice by providing temporary assistance for basic necessities or housing. Basic necessities are defined as groceries, utilities and housing. Housing assistance can only be used for current or late rent or mortgage payments.
An applicant may request different types of assistance with each application for a lifetime total of $1500 assistance across all aid types from the Senior Rainbow Assistance Program. Only one (1) application may be submitted in a calendar month per applicant. An applicant cannot apply for both the housing assistance and the grocery/utility assistance in the same calendar month.
As an example, an applicant could receive assistance twice from the Housing Assistance for a total of $1000 and assistance twice from the Grocery/Utility Assistance for a total $500. This applicant would have a received the maximum support of $1500 and would no longer be eligible for further assistance.
Assistance will not be provided for medical or pharmaceutical needs.
An applicant may request different types of assistance with each application for a lifetime total of $1500 assistance across all aid types from the Senior Rainbow Assistance Program. Only one (1) application may be submitted in a calendar month per applicant. An applicant cannot apply for both the housing assistance and the grocery/utility assistance in the same calendar month.
As an example, an applicant could receive assistance twice from the Housing Assistance for a total of $1000 and assistance twice from the Grocery/Utility Assistance for a total $500. This applicant would have a received the maximum support of $1500 and would no longer be eligible for further assistance.
Assistance will not be provided for medical or pharmaceutical needs.
Grocery/Utility Assistance
April 01, 2022 - Program Temporarily Suspended due to low Funding
Utilities are defined as gas, electricity, water/sewage, or phone. Internet and cable tv or streaming services do not qualify in this program. Assistance for food/grocery will be provided via gift card, stored value card or other pre-paid/electronic method to a grocery store or grocery delivery service within ten (10) business days of program acceptance.
Senior Rainbow’s assistance towards groceries or utilities will be limited a maximum of six (6) payments of $250 and will require a separate application for each payment. The $250 payment can be split between multiple utilities or a utility and groceries.
April 01, 2022 - Program Temporarily Suspended due to low Funding
Utilities are defined as gas, electricity, water/sewage, or phone. Internet and cable tv or streaming services do not qualify in this program. Assistance for food/grocery will be provided via gift card, stored value card or other pre-paid/electronic method to a grocery store or grocery delivery service within ten (10) business days of program acceptance.
Senior Rainbow’s assistance towards groceries or utilities will be limited a maximum of six (6) payments of $250 and will require a separate application for each payment. The $250 payment can be split between multiple utilities or a utility and groceries.
Housing Assistance
Dec 14, 2021 - Program Temporarily Suspended due to low Funding
Upon acceptance, assistance will be provided in the form direct payment to the applicant’s landlord or mortgage company either by check or electronic transfer. Payments will not be made in cash or directly to the applicant. Housing assistance can only be used for current or late rent or mortgage payments. Senior Rainbow will not aid with down payments, security deposits, late fees, or other fees in relation to the applicant's rent or mortgage.
All applications must be accompanied by a copy of the most recent mortgage statement or current rental agreement stating monthly rent costs. If the assistance request is for rental assistance for Section 8 or other subsidized housing, a document showing the applicant’s responsibility for their monthly rent must be provided.
Senior Rainbow’s assistance towards housing will be limited a maximum of three (3) payments of $500 and will require a separate application for each payment.
Dec 14, 2021 - Program Temporarily Suspended due to low Funding
Upon acceptance, assistance will be provided in the form direct payment to the applicant’s landlord or mortgage company either by check or electronic transfer. Payments will not be made in cash or directly to the applicant. Housing assistance can only be used for current or late rent or mortgage payments. Senior Rainbow will not aid with down payments, security deposits, late fees, or other fees in relation to the applicant's rent or mortgage.
All applications must be accompanied by a copy of the most recent mortgage statement or current rental agreement stating monthly rent costs. If the assistance request is for rental assistance for Section 8 or other subsidized housing, a document showing the applicant’s responsibility for their monthly rent must be provided.
Senior Rainbow’s assistance towards housing will be limited a maximum of three (3) payments of $500 and will require a separate application for each payment.
Basic Necessities Program Application
The latest application for this program is available here.
Please email completed form to info@seniorrainbow.org
The latest application for this program is available here.
Please email completed form to info@seniorrainbow.org