Over the course of the pandemic, one of the most frequent calls our office received was from residents struggling to make their rent or mortgage payments. This week, I spoke with Wendy Rodriguez from the office of State Rep. Delia Ramirez about the Illinois housing relief bill just signed into law, and how to access the resources it provides. You can watch our Facebook Live conversation here.
I want to make sure all residents are aware that there are now two major rental assistance programs available to Chicagoans. The State of Illinois is currently accepting applications for the Illinois Rental Payment Program. At the moment, only landlords can initiate an application on behalf of the tenant. Landlords/ housing providers can apply through Monday, June 7. Tenants will then have until Monday, June 14 to complete their portion of a landlord-initiated application. If you need help applying or are having difficulty getting your landlord to apply, you can also contact one of the state’s housing stability providers. Learn more about how to apply.
The City of Chicago opens their rental assistance program on May 24th. Applications will close on June 8th. Similar to the State Illinois program, Chicago’s assistance program will offer up to 12 months of past rent and 3 months of future rent. In addition to providing rental assistance, Chicago’s program can also provide utility assistance for past due bills. If you are eligible for both programs, you can apply for both. The State and City are coordinating when processing applications. Learn more.
The Mortgage Assistance Program, made possible by the City of Chicago, also provides assistance to low-to moderate-income Chicago homeowners who have suffered an economic impact due to the Covid-19 pandemic and are having difficulty paying their mortgage. The maximum amount of assistance available is $3,300. Grant amounts awarded will be based on the amount needed to bring your mortgage current. Eligible homeowners will have the assistance paid directly to their mortgage service. Learn more.
In This Week’s Newsletter
Quick Links
Upcoming Ward Nights
Chat with Alderman Rodriguez-Sanchez at Ward Night!
E-mail Info@33rdward.org or call our office 773.840.7880 to sign up for an appointment at an upcoming Ward Night.
Marking Two Years in Office
This week marked our team’s two-year anniversary of taking office!
I want to thank my staff, our volunteers, and the countless neighbors who have contributed to our initiatives or offered invaluable input and feedback. The work I’m most proud of is that which we’ve done as a true community effort, including:
- Introducing the “Treatment Not Trauma” ordinance and pushing for a public-health approach to safety
- Bringing together a safety and wellness working group to actively engage neighbors in actively building safe, healthy communities
- Bringing new violence prevention resources, including street outreach workers, to the 33rd Ward
- Making Chicago a true sanctuary city by eliminating the loopholes in the Welcoming Cities ordinance, and supporting deportation defense in our neighborhoods
- Introducing the 33rd ward’s first participatory budgeting process
- Implementing a community-driven zoning and development process that gives residents more power to decide the future of our neighborhoods
- Using our ward office to support mutual aid during the pandemic, provide warning centers and snow-shoveling assistance during the polar vortex, and distribute thousands of masks and “Recovery for All” newsletters
- Helping hundreds of 33rd Ward residents book vaccine appointments and improving language access to vaccination info
Block Parties Are Back!
With distanced, outdoor gatherings fairly low risk for Covid-19 transmission, we are excited to announce that the city will resume granting permits for block parties this summer. There are a few key differences to be aware of this year:
- The block party applicant must volunteer to be a covid-19 captain.
- The covid-19 captain is responsible for recommending that attendees receive a covid-19 vaccine.
- If an attendee is not able to receive a vaccine (especially children who may not be old enough yet), they should wear a mask and socially distance.
- The covid-19 captain should ensure hand sanitizer is available for attendees.
- Finally, jumping jacks and bouncy houses will not be permitted.
The city will begin accepting applications on June 6, and July 5 is the first day that block parties can be held.
You can apply with our office for a block party permit here! If you have any questions about the new guidelines, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Local Business Highlights & Updates
We’re expecting the first summer-y weekend of 2021, and it’s a great time to get out and support our ward businesses! Based on your vaccination status and comfort level, there are great options to take advantage of in fully-outdoor spaces, or indoor with proper precautions.
Miko’s Italian Ice is the place to be on a hot and sunny afternoon. They have outdoor seating and delicious, refreshing flavors to please everyone! I highly recommend mixing the hibiscus with the lime. I’ve never been the same after tasting that. Open every day from 12-9. mikositalianice.com
Twisted Hippo wants to invite you to embrace your weird. We’ve been through some weird times, that’s for sure. There’s no better place to bring the weirdness that has taken over all of us than this colorful and open space. They have delicious food and drinks and great ambiance. Perfect for fun dates, group and family hangouts or just to sit in a great looking place and have a nice meal!
*This space is fully accessible
After a year of staying home and binge-watching Netflix, you can now go work on your health and your strength at Hybrid Strength Athletics right here in the 33rd Ward. This gym is open 24hrs with a key card. They have all the equipment you need with a friendly vibe and plenty of space to do your own thing. (This is a new business, not associated with the former gym that previously occupied the space. Renato, the owner, is ready to get you set up to start a journey to a healthier stronger you.)
A modern pizzeria that celebrates the classics, Easy street is the perfect spot to be out in a hot day. They have a beautiful, outdoor beer garden where you can spend an afternoon enjoying pizza, beer, sun and breeze. Enjoy their gorgeous mural and spend some time under the little string lights with your favorite people.
Small Business Workshops
North River Commission is offering several free workshops this month for small business owners.
Monday, 5/24 at 4 PM via Zoom – Marketing Workshop (Spanish)
Join us on this first workshop in Spanish, organized by NRC and presented by Carlos Bosques, Director of SBDC at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center and Marketing professional with more than 15 years of experience. Learn about the importance of having an online presence: landing page, social media, emails, etc. and the importance of online marketing.
Restaurant Revitalization grant applications open
The U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) is now accepting applications for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. This program includes $26.8 billion to provide grants for restaurants sustaining financial losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishments on a first come first served basis until ALL funds are exhausted. During the first 21 days of application, SBA will only process and fund applications from priority groups: women, veterans, or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
How to Apply:
- Register for an account at restaurants.sba.gov
- Review the official guidance, including program guide, frequently asked questions, and the sample application. This National Restaurant Association FAQ fact sheet is another supplementary helpful resource to quickly learn more about the grant program.
- Gather the required documentation to apply (see below or visit the RRF homepage).
You can apply directly on SBA’s portal OR through your SBA-recognized Point of Sale (POS) vendors (Square, Toast, Clover, NCR Corporation (Aloha)). If an applicant is working with a point-of-sale vendor, they do not need to register beforehand on the site.
Links to applications in other languages:
Intern with the 33rd Ward – Apply by May 28th
Our office is looking for committed individuals who are passionate about public service and community engagement! Become a part of a historic community-led effort to create a ward office for and by the community.
As an intern, you will learn how ward offices operate and gain exposure to the strategies our office is using to redefine how local government works. You will be working directly with our Neighborhood Services Team and will have the opportunity to create, develop, and learn about efforts such as Participatory Budgeting, Community-driven Zoning, Community Safety and more, all while directly interacting with community members and aiding with their day-to-day needs.
Construction Updates
As we enter the summer construction season, we want to remind residents that we do our best to keep the construction map on our website updated with the latest from various departments, including water management, CDOT, and CTA. Visit the map here to check the status of projects in your area.
Some projects to be aware of include:
- Repaving underway on the 4400 Block of N Mozart. Please look out for “No Parking” signs during work hours. There are MANY repaving projects in store for this year including all of Irving Park and all of Kedzie.
- Crossing repairs at the Francisco Brown line station from Monday, May 24 to Tuesday, June 1, 2021. This will involve nightly single lane closures on the east side of Manor Avenue from Eastwood Avenue to Leland Avenue. Traffic will be able to proceed in both directions on Manor Avenue. The sidewalk on the east side of Manor Avenue will be temporarily closed. The sidewalk on the west side of Manor and Francisco will remain open to pedestrians. Parking restrictions will be enforced in the construction area, including parking lane closures on Manor Avenue for staging construction equipment.
Covid-19 Need-to-Know Info
The two-dose Pfizer vaccine has now been approved for people 12 and over. Save the date for our community vaccination event for families on June 18.
To make this event a success, we’ll need your help! Sign up here if you can volunteer at our vaccination event.
Mask guidance
In Chicago, masks are no longer required in many settings for fully vaccinated individuals. As a reminder, fully vaccinated means two weeks after your second vaccine dose if you got Pfizer or Moderna, or two weeks after your single dose if you got Johnson and Johnson. If you are not fully vaccinated, you must continue to wear a mask in indoor settings.
Many businesses are still requiring masks to be worn inside their establishments because of logistical concerns about verifying customers’ vaccination status. Please continue to respect individual businesses’ mask wearing policies.
The City of Chicago has now moved into the Bridge Phase. The Bridge Phase allows for increased capacities for businesses, restaurants, houses of faith, gyms, etc. To view the guidelines for the Chicago Bridge Phase, click here.
Vaccinations
Under the Vaccine Anti-Retaliation Ordinance we passed in City Council this month, all Chicago workers – including independent contractors – must receive four hours of time off to get vaccinated. Businesses who violate the ordinance may face fines. Learn more about the new protections on this flyer.
If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, there are lots of convenient options near the ward:
- Erie Health’s Foster location (5215 N California) is open for walk-ins Tue – Friday, 10 AM – 12 PM. Or make an appointment by visiting erie.health/zocdocchi or calling 312-666-3494.
- Swedish Hospital offers the vaccine for anyone 18 and over. Visit their website or call 773-907-7700 x 1 to make an appointment.
- Patients of Heartland Health Center can get vaccinated at Northeastern Illinois University. Sign up here.
- There are currently appointments available for the United Center and other sites at https://www.zocdoc.com/vaccine. You can also walk in to the United Center, Wrigley Field, or any other city-run site.
- Need assistance? We’re here to help you get vaccinated and working closely with community partners.
Covid-19 Survey for Chicago Disability Community
Access Living has an interest in supporting the health and wellness of people with disabilities in Chicago and Illinois. They are seeking feedback from people with disabilities about COVID-19 vaccinations and barriers they may or may not be facing when it comes to actually getting vaccinated. Take the survey in English.
Vaccinations for Homebound Seniors
CDPH is collaborating with the Chicago Fire Department to provide in-home vaccinations for homebound seniors and those with disabilities that prevent them from leaving the home for medical reasons. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please complete this survey so the city can coordinate in-home vaccinations. If you need assistance completing the form, please contact our office. Learn more here.
Testing Options
The City’s community-based testing sites remain open to all people living in Chicago, regardless of insurance or immigration status. You’re encouraged to register in advance at http://chicagocovidtesting.com/.
If there aren’t any available time slots, you can use this interactive testing map to locate other testing sites nearby. There are a number of options in or near the 33rd ward:
1. Swedish Hospital: Call: 773-907-7700 or go online for more information.
2. Pharmacy One, 4751 N. Kedzie Ave, 2nd Floor. Schedule an appointment via email or their Facebook page. pharmacyone@curishealthcare.org.
3. Heartland Health Centers is offering FREE COVID-19 testing for those that are uninsured, regardless of immigration status. Call 773-751-7800 for an appointment. More info here.
4. Physicians Immediate Care, Six Corners at 4211 N Cicero Ave. Curbside COVID-19 testing for anyone with symptoms. Website.
Gov Announcements & Resources
Apply for One Chicago Summer
This is the city’s annual summer jobs program aimed at those age 14 to 24. It runs from July 5 to Aug. 13 and includes both remote and socially-distanced, in-person jobs and life skills training.
The program has space for 21,000 young people, and there are still plenty of openings! The deadline to apply is June 11.
Applications and more info can be found at OneSummerChicago.org.
Preschool enrollment open
Jumpstart your child’s education with the Chicago Early Learning program! The 2021-2022 school year preschool application is now open! There are over 600 CPS schools and community-based preschools located in the city for you to choose from. To learn more visit www.chicagoearlylearning.org or call 312.229.1690.
FEMA COVID-19 financial assistance
FEMA is now offering financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20th, 2020, under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. To learn more and apply, click here.
Free Tax Assistance available through May 17, 2021
The City of Chicago is committed to ensuring that hardworking Chicagoans can access FREE tax services to file their returns and claim their tax refunds. The City of Chicago works with its nonprofit partner, Ladder Up, to offer free tax help throughout the tax season and at various points in the off-season.
Please note that Ladder Up is now operating Drop-off Tax Services only and will require everyone to have an appointment before entering a location.
Illinois Child Care Assistance
The Illinois Department of Human Services provides child care assistance for eligible families in need. You can find out if you qualify for assistance at bit.ly/childcareil. You can learn more about the program and how to apply online here. Assistance is available all year round, including over the summer.
Illinois Crisis Counseling Program
Funded by a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Illinois Department of Human Services has partnered with local behavioral health clinics to offer free crisis counseling and other mental health services for Illinois residents amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
All crisis counseling sessions are confidential and include a free screening and referral for individuals struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. In addition, crisis counseling sessions can offer reassurance, practical assistance, emotional support and teach behavioral techniques for coping with stress.
Community Bulletin Board
We use this section to share upcoming events, fundraisers, job openings, and other info sent to us by schools, community groups, and businesses in the ward and nearby.
If you have something you want to include, please send a flyer to newsletter@33rdward.org.
Clark Park Open House
Saturday Plant Giveaway
Plant Giveaway 5/22 
The community garden of Edison Regional Gifted Center and Albany Park Multicultural Academy is having a Plant Giveaway this Saturday, May 22nd from 9AM-12PM at 4929 N Sawyer Ave. You are invited to come and dig up a plant of your choice! Please wear a mask if you are participating in this event, even though it is outside.
Plants are being rehomed due to upcoming construction. Plants are free, just bring a shovel and maybe a pitchfork if you have one. Wear shoes that can get a bit dirty. If you are planning on attending please email Marcy at stewardsinthegarden@gmail.com so they can keep track of how many to expect. Plants you may find include: sun chokes, Karl Foerster’ Ornamental Grass, Cornflower (Centaurea Dealbata), bi-color daylilies as well as possible yellow and some orange (since they are not yet in bloom I can guess where the bi-color ones are), 2 four foot tall forsythia bushes, 3 burning bushes, a number of dogwood bushes with green leaves which will get small white flowers, green hosta and white and green hosta, what will become large miscanthus grass and another large grass I don’t have the name of, phlox, liriope, columbine, rose of Sharon trees, varirgated Solomon’s Seal, and ribbon grass. Some plants are more numerous than others. These will go on a first come first serve basis!
Bilingual Bird Walks
Chicago Little League Challengers in Horner Park
The Challenger Division is a division of Little League for boys and girls with physical and mental challenges, ages 4 – 18 (or up to age 22 if still enrolled in high school) to enjoy the game of baseball. In a Challenger game, each player bats and plays the field each inning. No score is kept during Challenger games, but rather the focus is on player interaction and skill development – both physical and interpersonal. Games are played Sunday morning at Horner Park. The goal for the Chicago Little League is to ensure that each player has the opportunity to increase their knowledge and skill of the game while having fun and being part of the team.
After a pause last year, the new season will run June through August.
Opening Soon! Visceral Dance Center
Office Hours:
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