NOTE: We are closed Monday for Pulaski day! Refuse collection will be delayed until Tuesday. Tuesday pick up will take place Tuesday and Wednesday. Recycling will continue as scheduled.
Update on Mutual Aid for Neighbors Impacted by the February 21st FireWatch the Alderwoman’s NEW Facebook live video
Neighbors- unfortunately, last week there were a few devastating fires that destroyed a residential building at 4337-39 N Richmond St, two beloved small businesses, and a vacant church on Sunnyside and Spaulding. Below are updates on community support efforts, and we encourage you to lend a hand!
UPDATES
Housing
-We are aware of at least 2 residents that have found stable housing
-Our office is directly helping 3 seniors to find housing.
-The majority of impacted tenants are still looking for stable housing, and all of those looking are Section 8 eligible.
Supply Distribution
-All neighbors have either picked up the supplies they needed from the 33rd Ward Working Families Office or had items delivered to them.
-We are still accepting donations, but ask that neighbors only donate what is specified in the flyer as we have limited volunteer capacity to distribute items beyond that. Because most neighbors have not found stable housing, they cannot physically accept large quantities of donations or large items in general.
Financial Donation
–$36,844 was raised by the GoFundMe! An additional $6,000 was raised by Anthem Church– so big shout out to them and for personally delivering supplies and food to some of the impacted neighbors!
–Each neighbor is currently receiving a check for $2,150. Additional funds that come into the GoFundMe once this week’s check distribution begins will also be evenly distributed in a second round.
-At least 8 of the 16 neighbors have received their check donation that came from the GoFundMe.
-All neighbors we have phone numbers for have been contacted to pick up their donation or to arrange delivery. Pastor Tom at Christ Lutheran Church (who set up the GoFundMe) and 33rd Ward Working Families volunteers have been great at contacting neighbors for this distribution.
*We are still trying to retrieve contact information for at least 2 neighbors and their funds have been set aside for when we make contact. If you have any information, please contact the office at info@33rdward.org.
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*Read below under “Housing Support” for a longer statement on the owner of the 4337-39 N Richmond St buildings that burned, Gary Carlson.
In This Week’s Newsletter
- Housing Support
- Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot: Money for Chicagoans Impacted by COVID, Apply by April
- Horner Park Farmers Market: Apply to participate by April 1st
- Avondale Community Planning Meeting: Tuesday, March 8th
- Covid-19 Updates
- Community Safety Updates
- Opportunities for Local Small Businesses
- Tax Season
- Winter Weather Prep
- Community bulletin board – click here for more events, job postings and resources
Quick Links
Looking for work?
The office regularly posts jobs on our Community Bulletin!*
Housing Support
Statement on building owner Gary Carlson and the fire at 4337-39 N Richmond St
We want to acknowledge the rightful long standing community frustration with one building owner, Mr. Carlson, who owns 4335-39 N Richmond and dozens of other properties.
These buildings have long been a concern, and we’ve taken action to see all relevant codes and laws enforced. For more than a year, my office has been working with the city’s law department, Chicago Police Department, Department of Buildings, Chicago Department of Housing, and the Chicago Housing Authority to address the owner’s problem buildings. This includes identifying buildings that are unsafe or have had verified criminal activity in the past. There are a number of buildings of his currently in administrative hearings, and my office is working closely with the attorneys responsible for handling his cases to make sure that issues are investigated and addressed.
After a push from my office and the neighboring 35th Ward office, where we brought all relevant city departments together to hold the owner accountable for his buildings, he has been forced by court to make repairs to his properties to comply with city code. We will continue to work with the city to ensure compliance from this owner and any other landlords who are not complying with city code.
CFD’s investigation will help to inform our next steps; we will share all relevant information with you when it’s available.
*At minute 16 of the Facebook Live video posted, the Alderwoman addresses this in detail.
Extension of Department of Family and Support Services Rental Program
Own a home and struggled to pay your mortgage/property taxes this year? Apply for the Illinois Emergency Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) in April!
Starting in April 2022, the state will begin accepting applications from homeowners impacted by COVID-19 for grants of up to $30,000 to eliminate or reduce past-due mortgage and property tax payments. To prepare for the application portal opening in April homeowners should take the following steps:
- Attend an IHDA information session to learn how to complete the application for assistance. Information sessions are listed in the document and social media graphic below.
- Meet with a HUD-Certified Housing counseling agency to discuss options to prevent foreclosure. Homeowners can contact our office to get connected with a counseling agency in their area.
- Review the acceptable documentation list to begin gathering all the necessary documents to complete an application for assistance in April.
Need help applying? Please contact Emily Melbye, Chief of Staff for State Representative Will Guzzardi, at 773-853-2570 or at emily@repguzzardi.com so they can connect you to a HUD certified housing counselor and help you through the application process.
Eviction Support for Tenants
The state’s eviction moratorium ended October 3rd. The City of Chicago Department of Housing is working to support Chicagoans who will no longer be protected by the moratorium. Even though the eviction moratorium is coming to a close, there is help, both legal and financial, to keep residents in their homes.
Here are some key things to remember when facing an eviction.
- Don’t self-evict. A notice of eviction from your landlord does not mean you need to leave your home right away. Only the Sheriff can legally remove you from your home.
- Get legal help. Free legal assistance is available to Chicago renters. Go to www.Rentervention.com , which is provided by the Lawyers Committee for Better Housing, a Department of Housing delegate agency.
- Get financial help. The Department of Housing maintains a current list of places residents can apply for emergency rental assistance at Chicago.gov/RentHelp.
You can find more details on renters’ rights and other resources at Chicago.gov/Eviction.
Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot: Money for Chicagoans Impacted by COVID, Apply by April
Do you need financial support to recover from the COVID pandemic? The Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot begins this April, and is offering 5,000 Chicagoans $500 per month for twelve months, with no strings attached. Chicagoans will be selected through an open application and a citywide lottery.
Apply starting this April, and in the meantime, sign up for updates here so you don’t miss the application opening!
Horner Park Farmers Market: Apply to participate by April 1st!
Are you a farmer or food vendor? Join the Horner Park Farmers Market for their 8th season! Check out the 2022 Market Guidelines, 2022 Market Application, and 2022 Market Application for Business/Nonprofit to get started!
Details:
- Location: Horner Park, 2741 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60618 (Horner Park is a Chicago Park District park). Map
- Dates: Saturdays, June 4 through October 1, with a possible extension through October 22.
- Hours: 7:30am-9am setup, 9am-1pm open, 1pm-2pm takedown.
- Fees:
- $35 application fee (non-refundable). Payable via check or via PayPal.
- $30 per date for a space of approximately 11’x11’, fitting a 10’x10’ canopy; $10 for each additional adjacent space, up to 3 total spaces ($30 for 1 space, $40 for 2 adjacent spaces, $50 for 3 adjacent spaces).
- Vendors who pay for the entire 2022 regular season of 18 markets prior to the first market will receive a discount of two free markets, paying for 16 markets instead of all 18.
- Deadline: Applications are due by April 1 for first consideration — apply today!
Avondale Community Planning Meeting: Tuesday, March 8th
Covid-19 Updates
KN95 Mask Delivery for Seniors by the 33rd Ward Sage Brigade
Need a mask? Please submit your information and a volunteer will contact you.
Free at-home COVID-19 Tests
Free test kits are now available from the federal government.
Submit your information here to receive four rapid antigen tests to your home. Unfortunately, there is a limit of one order per household.
Need help applying? Call our office at 773-840-7880.
Report Complaints for Pop-up Testing Sites
Block Club Chicago has been reporting on a chain of pop-up testing sites, The Center for Covid Control, which is now closed amidst a state investigation. The chain reportedly lied to customers about test results and other extremely serious problems.
The office of the Attorney General urges residents to exercise caution before visiting any testing site. Read the full consumer alert here. It is recommended that residents first try to utilize a state-sponsored testing site. For information on COVID-19 testing in Chicago, go to Chicago.gov/covidtesting.
Complaints related to COVID-19 testing sites may be filed with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s Office. Click here to file a complaint or call the AG’s consumer fraud hotline at 1-800-386-5438.
At-Home Vaccinations Get your whole family vaccinated at home! CDPH is offering vaccination appointments at home for up to 10 family members. Click here to set up your appointment!
CPS Vaccination Events
Find your student a COVID-19 vaccine appointment this week through CPS:
– Sign up for weekly COVID testing at CPS
Other Vaccination Events
Booster doses for everyone 16 years and older are now available at all CDPH clinics and even at home! Getting boosted helps keep you and your family protected from the virus. Make a plan for your family at chi.gov/covidvax.
Some easy, nearby options for all 33rd Ward residents age 5 and up to get vaccinated include:
Theodore Roosevelt High School
3436 W Wilson Ave
Mondays-Wednesdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Anyone 5+ Pfizer
Also 18+ Johnson & Johnson
Walk-ins welcome, appointments can be made online. Click this link to IDPH registration
Additional information available on the CPS COVID vaccination page.
Swedish Hospital: Walk-In’s Welcome
Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Please note: The Vaccine Clinic has moved to the Professional Plaza, 2740 W. Foster Ave. Suite 108 (building directly across from our Emergency Department).www.swedishcovenant.org/covid/covid-19-vaccine
Get tested: Anyone, including people who are fully vaccinated, should consider getting tested before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household. Find testing locations here.
Community Safety Updates
Community Safety Town Hall: North/Northwest Side on Wednesday, March 9th
Join the North/Northwest Side Community Safety Town Hall hosted by the City of Chicago to learn about the City’s near-term violence prevention strategy. Come ask questions and provide feedback!
To register, click here.
Grants of Over $150 Million for Organizations Working on Firearm Violence Prevention
In accordance with the Reimagine Public Safety Act, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) is offering grants of over $150 million to organizations addressing the root causes of firearm violence through behavioral health services, economic opportunities, and violence interruption and prevention programs!
For more information on the IDHS Firearm Violence Prevention efforts, click here. You can also direct questions to DHS.ViolencePreventionServices@illinois.gov.
General Violence Prevention Grants Available
Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICIJIA) has opened grant opportunities for organizations of various sizes to fund violence prevention work. Select communities are eligible to apply for the grant. To read through eligibility visit this link.
*If the ICIJIA website link isn’t working for you, try their Facebook page as they are experiencing technical issues.
Violence Prevention Grants Available
Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICIJIA) has opened grant opportunities for organizations of various sizes to fund violence prevention work. Select communities are eligible to apply for the grant. To read through eligibility visit this link.
17th District CAPS Meeting Virtual
The 17th District has resumed beat meetings virtually.
Beat meetings are a resource for neighbors to get the latest update on occurrences of crime and other related activities in the ward. Our office and neighboring ward offices attend these meetings regularly and provide additional news related to ward activities. See below for a full calendar of 17th District 2022 beat meetings.
Beat 1711 and 1712 meeting link.
Beat 1713 and 1724 meeting link
Beat 1722 and 1723 meeting link
Beat 1732 and 1733 meeting link
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Please contact the 17th District Community Policing Office / CAPS, if there are any questions or concerns.
Email: caps.017district@chicagopolice.org
Telephone: 312-742-4588
Utility Scammers
We want to keep reminding neighbors not to let anyone into their homes unless they explicitly requested someone from a utility company to come out. There was an instance where a neighbor had a fake utility worker ask to access his home and the worker came in, pretended to provide a service, and stole several items of value and money. The family did not realize that they were being robbed until after the fact which goes to show how sneaky these individuals can be.
ComEd will never call or come to your home or business to:
- Sell you electricity
- Ask for your account number
- Ask you to make a direct payment with a prepaid cash card, cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, or third-party electronic banking app such as Cash App, Zelle, QuickPay or Venmo
- Ask for your personal information such as Social Security number, Tax ID, or bank information
Please be aware of potential email and web scams:
- Carefully review messages originating from outside your organization’s network
- Check the name of the sender and business in the email and make sure it matches the name and business in the email address. Look for misspellings and zeros in place of the letter O.
- Do you recognize the sender? Don’t hesitate to make a phone call to verify a message is being sent from a trusted source. Use a phone number from your own records or the company’s official website and not the number provided in the email.
- Confirm the contents of the email look legitimate especially when a request can have financial impacts, such as transferring money
- Hover over website links before clicking to confirm legitimacy of the site
If at any time you are uncomfortable, or you feel you are experiencing suspicious behavior, call ComEd immediately at 800-EDISON1.
Opportunities for Local Small Businesses
Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) Grants Available: Applications Open March 1st-31st
The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and SomerCor is rolling out the Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) grant program for applications in March!
- Lawrence/Kedzie, North Park and Albany Park
Applications open: 9 a.m., Tuesday, March 1stApplications close: 5 p.m., Thursday, March 31st
The SBIF program uses revenue from TIF districts to help owners of commercial and industrial properties to repair or remodel their facilities for their own business or on behalf of tenants. Tenant businesses are also eligible to apply on their own. Program participants can receive grants for 30 to 90 percent of project costs, with a maximum grant of $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties. The grants are administered by SomerCor on the City’s behalf and do not have to be repaid.
Please note that residential projects are not eligible for the SBIF program, and residential developers should not apply.
For additional information, visit www.chicago.gov/sbif.
Chicago Recovery Grants Available: Due March 10th
Chicago Recovery Plan community development grants are being made available to Chicago entrepreneurs, small businesses and developers. You can learn more about the Chicago Recovery Grant here. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until March 10th.
Tax Season
Free Tax Prep Help
The City’s Tax Prep Chicago free income tax preparation and assistance program is back, offering expanded in-person, drop-off, and by-appointment services at eight locations across Chicago starting as early as January 24.
Eligible Chicagoans could receive up to $7628 from the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credits alone, in addition to other credits. But many people may not claim all the credits they deserve without the help of knowledgeable preparers.
Families earning up to $58,000 and individuals earning up to $32,000 are eligible to take advantage of the free and confidential Tax Prep assistance at eight sites across Chicago. Volunteer tax preparers certified through IRS-approved training will assist them with federal and state income tax returns.
For more information about how to access the free tax assistance program, Chicagoans can visit the City’s tax assistance website at www.TaxPrepChicago.org or call (312) 588-6900 to schedule an appointment.
Free Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic
Winter Weather Preparations
City Warming Centers When temperatures are at 32 degrees or below – warming areas are available at the City’s six community service centers. View locations and more information here.Schedule: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. *City-operated libraries and park facilities also may activate warming areas, if needed, including during evening hours, weekends and holidays.
Need help heating your home? Bill payment assistance is available through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Share the Warmth program.
Interested? Peoples Gas customers can call the Community Economic Development Association (CEDA) at 800-571-2332, or go to cedaorg.net.
Click here to read more about your rights as a utility customer and ways to save on heating costs this winter courtesy of the Citizens Utility Board.
Emergency Heating Repair Program
The Chicago Department of Housing (DOH) Emergency Heating Repair Program provides a grant up to $24,999 to low-moderate income, owner-occupied residential building of one to four (1-4) units. Interested? Homeowners can download an application package through April 1, 2022 at www.chicago.gov/ehrp. Homeowners can call the Department of Housing’s customer service line at 312.744.3653 for more information.
Monday: 12:00 PM – 7 PM
Tues – Thurs: 10 AM – 5 PM
Friday: 9 AM – 4PM
️E-mail info@33rdward.org anytime for service requests or general queries
️ Call us at 773-840-7880 during business hours
Follow us on Facebook or Twitter
Check out our ward website for info on services and events: https://www.33rdward.org/
Best,
Rossana Rodriguez