McHenry County, Illinois, located at the northern edge of the state, abutting Lake County to the east and the Wisconsin state line to the north, is mounting a program to help low-income residents who need financial assistance replacing their roofs. 

The McHenry County Roofing Assistance Program, funded by a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant, can provide roof repair or replacement to qualified county residents. The county said that to qualify, homeowners must earn 80% or less of the area’s median income.  

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020 Census data, the county’s median household income was $76,482; individual median income for men was $61,971 and $42,125 for women, respectively.

Priority will be given to those earning 50% or less and to senior citizens aged 65 or over. The home must be the homeowner's main residence in McHenry County.

The McHenry County Community Development Division will hold three information sessions beginning today, Monday, Sept. 11, from 11 a.m. to noon, at the McHenry County Planning and Development Department in Woodstock. 

The second session will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 13, from 5 -6 p.m., at the McHenry County Housing Authority in Crystal Lake. The third meeting is online via Microsoft Teams this Friday, Sept. 15, from 2 to 3:30 p.m..

The program's pre-application period begins on Sept. 15 at 8 a.m. and ends on Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. Alternatively, it will close after 200 pre-applications have been submitted. These pre-applications must be filled out and submitted online.

A total of 25 homeowners will receive the grant. The recipients will be selected through a random drawing on Sept. 25. Successful applicants will be notified by email and asked to complete the full program application.

For more information, homeowners can call (815) 334-4088.