Morgan County gets funding for home repairs, accessibility upgrades

Low- and very low-income homeowners in Morgan County will soon be able to seek up to $45,000 for major repairs and accessibility upgrades, or up to $21,500 for roof-only work, after the county received new funding through the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s Home Repair and Accessibility Program.

The money is aimed at keeping people in their homes, especially older adults, residents with disabilities and homeowners whose mobility needs make basic changes hard to afford. County officials said the program will cover health- and safety-related repairs, along with improvements such as ramps and other accessibility work that can make a house safer to live in. Morgan County, in west-central Illinois, said it has roughly 36,000 residents and sits about 90 miles north of St. Louis, about 230 miles southwest of Chicago and about 30 miles west of Springfield.

The funding had been moving through county meetings for months before the October 6 announcement. Commissioners first considered a resolution accepting the HRAP grant on June 25, 2025. By Sept. 8, 2025, Commissioner Michael Woods told the board the final funding agreement had been executed by all parties, and the county’s chosen administrator was TEC Services Consulting Inc., with Greg Sutton named in the minutes. On Oct. 6, Woods told the board the county had received the money, a press release would go to local media and the initial HRAP landing page was live online. County minutes also said contractors were being recruited for roofing, siding, ramps and other general improvements over the next six months.

IHDA says HRAP assistance is offered as a forgivable loan, with a five-year term for full rehabilitation or accessibility work and a three-year term for roof-only projects. To qualify, total household income must be at or below 80% of area median income. Because funding is limited, county officials cautioned that not every eligible household will receive help, making speed important once applications open.

The need is clear in a state where the average single-family home was built in 1972. Morgan County residents seeking updates can contact the City of Jacksonville Community Development Office at (217) 479-4600 or Commissioner Michael Woods at mwoods@morgancounty-il.gov.