Thornton Township is earmarking $1 million to help residents behind on rent and mortgages, but where the money is coming from isn’t clear.
Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard said the program is meant to provide a maximum of $3,000 assistance to individual homeowners or renters, but can’t be used to help homeowners who are already in the eviction process.
Applications for the program, offered through the township’s general assistance department, will be accepted through Feb. 29. Applicants must present proof of income and cannot be receiving help with rent or mortgages through other county, state or federal programs, according to the township.
Henyard said the program will last until the funding is exhausted, and applicants need to be at least two months behind on rent or mortgage payments.
Henyard was elected mayor of Dolton in April 2021, and the Thornton Township Board appointed her to a $277,000 a year job as township supervisor in March 2022, filling a vacancy created by the death of longtime Supervisor Frank Zuccarelli.
Henyard was not immediately available Monday to discuss the program and answer questions such as what funding source is being used. Questions were sent to a public relations person working on the supervisors behalf.
During a more than hourlong Facebook presentation on Friday to announce the program, Henyard said the program is meant to help lower-income township residents, but that “the middle class people need help too.”
“We are here to help you in your time of need,” she said of the program.
The township will need to verify qualifications from applicants, and it could be more than a month from the close of taking applications before financial help flows to individual renters or homeowners.
Henyard said the township is in line to receive $9.2 million in outside funding while Dolton will get $6.8 million in outside help.
The presentation mixed Dolton business with township issues, and Henyard frequently referred to herself as “Super Mayor” and promised more giveaways in the pipeline. It was not clear from her talk whether that referred to Dolton or the township.
“Wait till the next thing I’m going to do next month,” she said. “I’ve got a lot more great things coming.”
Henyard also did not make clear if the giveaways are through the township or the village.
Much of the Facebook talk focused on programs the township provides, such as its food pantry and senior services, and it wasn’t until more than 45 minutes into her talk that specifics were given about the housing assistance program.
Henyard scolded her critics, including the media, during her social media talk.
“It’s a shame you do get dragged in the media,” she said.
Henyard has, as mayor, been at odds with some village trustees who have been critical of her administration and say they are being denied information about Dolton’s finances, such as how money is being spent.
Already a fixture on social media, Henyard said that she is soon launching a podcast titled “Tiffany Henyard on the Move.”
