Senior Tax Opportunity Program (STOP)
CDEL offers legal services to a large number of clients through Initiatives. These programs are developed in response to a specific legal issue which has a disparate impact on the low-income seniors or persons with disabilities- the persons CDEL is mandated to serve. The Senior Tax Opportunity Program (STOP) is one of these programs.
STOP assists seniors at risk of losing their homes due to delinquent property tax payments. The program was piloted in 2007, and fully implemented in 2009. STOP is administered in partnership with the Cook County Assessor’s and Treasurer’s Offices, and provides notice to seniors regarding the delinquencies; consultation regarding available exemptions including: the Senior Citizen Exemption and the Senior Freeze Exemption; eligibility criteria; application procedures and time frames; contact information; and, action which must be taken to qualify for the exemptions.
CDEL is provided with contact information for senior home owners who are at risk; offers a training program for volunteers in conjunction with the Assessor’s Office; and, CDEL volunteers contact the seniors individually to provide the services.
In 2009 and 2010, CDEL:
- Trained over 75 volunteers;
- Attempted contact with over 3,200 senior home owners; and
- Provided information and consultation regarding the exemptions to over 2,500 senior home owners.
