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The National Association of REALTORS® set aside $60,000 to provide mortgage and rent assistance to victims of June 22 tornadoes in northern Illinois through the NAR REALTORS® Relief Foundation.

REALTORS® can help distribute applications locally so victims can apply for one-time grants of up to $1,500 for housing relief (one month of mortgage or rent payment). The deadline for submissions is Oct. 1.

Tornado victims who need money to help pay for their daily needs can also apply for help from the Illinois REALTORS® Relief Foundation. Relief is limited to $500 per application, and victims must qualify for need-based awards. Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 1.

The National Weather Service has now confirmed 12 tornadoes occurred in northern Illinois on the evening of June 22, with the most damage in Coal City (Grundy County), Braidwood (Will County) and the Woodhaven Campground in Sublette (Lee County). A total of 14 people were reported injured but no one was killed. Members of local REALTOR® associations are helping where they can.

The Three Rivers Association of REALTORS® Chief Executive Officer David McClintock says members have helped with clean-up efforts but the low inventory of unoccupied rental properties has made it difficult to help those who can’t live in their homes until repairs are made.

“This storm has been challenging,” McClintock says. “But the cities impacted (Coal City and Braidwood) were much better prepared to respond than 20 months ago (when another tornado struck Coal City). The police and fire departments immediately went into action and were able to detour traffic out of the affected areas.”