JOLIET—The Will County Board today voted to begin negotiations with the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) to coordinate Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) for individuals and families struggling to pay rent in Will County. The United States Treasury granted $20.6 million to Will County for rental assistance. The County will work with IHDA, which also received a grant from the federal government, so services are not duplicated and maximum relief is provided for residents. The ERA will provide direct financial assistance for rent and utilities.
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“Countless residents have suffered great financial hardship during the COVID pandemic, and this type of direct housing aid can go a long way towards returning them to a sound financial footing,” said Mimi Cowan, Speaker of the Will County Board. 

JOLIET – In a special meeting today, the Will County Board authorized a contract for a new COVID-19 call center to assist the Will County Health Department with their call response. The Health Department has been inundated with inquiries in the last few weeks from residents seeking information on COVID-19 vaccinations. 
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“The Health Department has been overwhelmed fielding calls from residents seeking information about the vaccine,” said County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan (Naperville). “The County Board has stepped in with extra funding to make sure residents get the information that they need and can get scheduled for a vaccination appointment.”

JOLIET – The Will County Board Capital Improvements Committee took the first formal step today to begin construction of a new county morgue by approving the framework of the process to bid out the design and building of this critical facility.
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“County Board members have seen firsthand the need for a new morgue and are working together to address this issue,” said County Board Speaker Mimi Cowan.  “Will County is a growing county that must continue to be aggressive in planning for our future growth and I believe this project has bipartisan support to move forward.”