(WTTW News)

Gov. J.B. Pritzker extended Illinois’ ban on evictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic until March 6, even as the second wave of the pandemic eases and the vaccination effort gains steam.

The latest executive order from the governor, issued Friday, means the state’s ban on most evictions will enter its 12th month.

Pritzker ordered a total ban on evictions on March 20, 2020 when he issued a stay-at-home order, and extended it as state officials worked to get $5,000 grants to Illinois residents who won a lottery for rental assistance and help with mortgage payments.

Illinois’ $300 million housing assistance program was the largest in the nation, officials said.

Pritzker modified the eviction ban in November to cover only renters who earn less than $99,000 annually — or $198,000 if a couple files jointly — to align with the federal ban on evictions, officials said. The federal ban will be in place until March 31, under an order signed by President Joe Biden.

Those who cannot pay their rent must submit a form to their landlords declaring that the pandemic has made it impossible for them to pay all or a portion of their rent. That form is available at ihda.org.

Evictions filed and approved before the pandemic can move forward if there are “serious health and safety concerns,” officials said.

Approximately 21,000 households in Chicago could be evicted from their rental homes, according to a forecast released in December by the Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing and the Center for Urban Research & Learning at Loyola University.

Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | (773) 569-1863 | [email protected]