Springfield, IL-(Effingham Radio)- In what has been a record-breaking year for devastating tornado activity in Illinois, the Illinois REALTORS® Relief Foundation has launched its latest disaster assistance effort, this time helping victims of tornadoes that swept through Coles and Effingham counties on June 17.
Seven tornadoes moved through central Illinois during the storm, with the city of Charleston in Coles County and Village of Montrose in Effingham County sustaining the most damage. Preliminary estimates indicate nearly 1,000 homes sustained storm damage and some homes will have to be demolished or rebuilt. The Illinois REALTORS® Relief Foundation (IRRF) helps bridge the gap between insurance coverage and actual recovery costs, providing critical support when families need it most. IRRF provides up to $500 in mortgage or rental assistance and unreimbursed losses directly related to disasters (e.g. insurance deductible, home-related not covered by insurance).
Only one application is permitted per household.
“Our hearts go out to all who have been affected by this year’s severe weather and faced the daunting task of rebuilding their lives after these devastating storms,” said Illinois REALTORS® CEO Jeff Baker. “The Illinois REALTORS® Relief Foundation was built for moments like this so that we could step up, support our neighbors, and provide immediate, meaningful assistance when they need it most. We are trying to ensure our neighbors don’t have to face the recovery process alone.”
Illinois has already broken its record of tornadoes in a year with as many as 200 reports of and confirmed tornadoes so far in 2026, according to preliminary data from NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. With that damage comes a growing need for disaster assistance and IRRF anticipates that it will be issuing relief funds for additional communities impacted by recent storms.
So far this year, IRRF has provided $35,000 for Kankakee tornado damage in April and another $25,000 for Stephenson and Winnebago counties in April. Two more relief efforts are currently active and taking applications: one for victims of the April tornadoes in McLean County and another for June tornadoes in LaSalle County. These relief efforts reflect REALTORS®’ long-standing commitment to serving their communities not only through homeownership and housing advocacy but also by supporting neighbors during times of crisis.
Learn more about IRRF and find current relief effort applications at: illinoisrealtors.
Since IRRF was founded in 2015, it has distributed $615,929 and has helped 1,168 families statewide. The Illinois REALTORS® Relief Foundation (IRRF) can help those living in the state’s communities which have been affected by natural disasters. It is a 501(c)(3) organization developed solely for the purpose of help in neighbors and clients in a time of need.
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