Today was a great day for my family: my son received his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at his elementary school. The Pfizer vaccine is now fully approved for ages 5 – 11, and it’s been wonderful to see so many of our youngest neighbors getting their first dose over the past week and a half.
This is especially important given the uptick in new Covid-19 cases we are currently seeing in Chicago, including in our schools: Last week, Chicago Public Schools reported 247 positive cases among children and 79 adults, the highest number since the third week of school this year.
If you care for a person between the ages of 5 and 11 and have yet to schedule a vaccination appointment, this website lists multiple locations. One great option for CPS students and families is our ward’s Roosevelt High School (3436 W Wilson Ave), which hosts walk-in vaccination clinics weekly on Wednesdays 9am-1pm. You can also book an appointment here.
If you encounter any difficulties in scheduling an appointment, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. We are here to help you and your loved ones gets vaccinated.
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33rd Ward Participatory Budgeting: Vote Now!
In September 2019, we launched a Participatory Budgeting (PB) program in the 33rd Ward. PB is a democratic process through which community members decide how to spend part of a public budget—in this case, the $1 million in annual Menu Funds that all ward offices receive for infrastructure improvements, including streets, alley, and sidewalk pavements.
This civic engagement initiative aims to increase transparency and participation in our communities with greatest needs. Our PB committee, made up of 33rd Ward residents volunteering their time, has been working since this summer to collect ideas for improvements to our public spaces.
Now, it’s time for you to decide which ones you want to see funded. All 33rd Ward residents age 14 and up are eligible to vote, regardless of immigration status. Voting is open through November 30.
Read more about this year’s proposals on our website, or access our paper ballot here. Then, register to vote in PB 2022! You can also participate in virtual discussions with our new, online platform.
Israel’s Gifts of Hope Thanksgiving Basket Drive
Our community partners at Israel’s Gifts of Hope are commencing their annual basket drive to support survivors and families impacted by violence. This is a great way to contribute care and build towards stronger, safer communities.
2021 Child Tax Credit Payments
It is not too late to sign up for 2021 Child Tax Credit payments.
The Federal American Rescue Plan increased the amount of the 2021 Child Tax Credit to support families with children. The full benefit of the Child Tax Credit is now $300 per month per child under age 6 and $250 per month for each child age 6 to 17. Most families are already signed up! If you’ve filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020, or if you signed up to receive a stimulus check from the IRS, you will get the monthly Child Tax Credit automatically.
If you didn’t make enough to be required to file taxes in 2020 or 2019, you can still get benefits. Low-income families with children are eligible for this crucial tax relief. These payments do not count as income for any family. So, signing up won’t affect your eligibility for other federal benefits like SNAP and WIC. Now through Nov. 15, the Administration is offering a simplified Non-Filer Sign-up Tool for you to claim your Child Tax Credit payments. If you do not sign up in time for monthly payments in 2021, you will receive the full benefit when you file your taxes in 2022.
33rd Ward Buildings Safety Update
For more than a year, our office has been a part of conversations alongside the 35th Ward Aldermanic Office, various city departments and CPD about buildings in our wards owned by landlord Gary Carlson. There have been a series of safety issues with Mr. Carlson’s buildings, including numerous code violations affecting habitability for tenants, and we have been working to heighten accountability.
As of this week, our update from the city’s law department is that they have chosen to move forward with legal proceedings against Mr. Carlson and have filed 42 cases against him to date. Additional inspections on his buildings uncovered further violations, and Law reports that Carlson is making progress on abating dangerous conditions, changing locks and pulling permits. We have maintained direct contact with Law and all agencies involved in this matter and will keep tight communication throughout the proceedings.
Community Blood Drive Nov. 20
Christ Lutheran Church in Albany Park will hold its next blood drive Saturday, Nov. 20 from 10AM – 3PM.
Save a life, donate blood! Sign up here.
Emergency Heating Repair Program Now Open
The Chicago Department of Housing (DOH) Emergency Heating Repair Program (EHRP) provides a grant up to $24,999 to low-moderate income, owner-occupied residential building of one to four (1-4) units.
Eligible residential buildings will be assisted one time for one-service (furnace or boiler) only and for the life of the property. In two to four (2-4) unit residential buildings with individual heating systems only the owner-occupied unit will qualify for assistance.
Interested homeowner(s) can check their eligibility and download an application package starting November 1 st to April 1, 2022 at: www.chicago.gov/ehrp.
Funding is limited and available on a first-come-first-service basis. The completed and signed application along with all required documents that relate to your household must be returned to the DOH as soon as possible.
New Rental Assistance Program Opens Dec. 6
The llinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced that it will now be opening its rental assistance application process on December 6. If your household or your tenant has experienced hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for rental assistance through IHDA or IDHS. To see eligibility requirements and for the latest updates on the new program launching Dec 6, you can visit illinoisrentalassistance.org.
More Resources for Residents
Eviction Support for Tenants
The state’s eviction moratorium ended October 3. 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.
Mortgage Assistance Program – Applications Ongoing
The Mortgage Assistance Program, provides assistance to low-to-moderate-income 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.
Please note: Eligible homeowners will have the assistance paid directly to their mortgage servicer. If you received assistance in 2020 you are not eligible for this round of funds.
To be eligible you must:
- Be a resident of the City of Chicago
- Live in the home (single-family up to 4 units) for which you are applying for assistance. It must be your primary place of residence.
- Demonstrate your total household income was 120% or below the Area Median Income (AMI) prior to March 1, 2020. (Click to see table)
- Have a mortgage on your home that was current as of March 1, 2020, and is now delinquent. You may be on a forbearance plan.
- Have experienced a change in your financial status after March 1, 2020, due to the COVID-19 crisis
If you need assistance applying for mortgage assistance, you can also contact Neighborhood Housing Servicesat 800-831-7949 or email EmergencyAssistance@nhschicago.org.
Free Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic
Infrastructure and Construction
Summer is construction season, and we know residents want to be able to plan ahead for street closures and parking disruptions. As a periodic reminder, we keep a map of the ward updated with all the information we’ve received to date from city agencies, utility companies, and other project managers. You can check out the construction map here.
You can also use the city’s ChiStreetWork portal, where you can search by address.
Street Closure at Sacramento There will be a full street closure on Sacramento Ave for People’s Gas work as they make their last connections to their mains. Here’s what you need to know: 
The closures will be on Sacramento, north AND south of Irving Park until the alley. Irving Park will NOT close. 
There will be no Parking or thru traffic on these sections of Sacramento during work hours (8AM-3PM) 
The alley will be accessible, therefore, neighbors should expect to see increased traffic in surrounding alleys during work hours. 
The streets will reopen to traffic daily after work hours (approx. 3PM) If you are planning your visit to our office, there is meter parking along Irving Park except at the bus stop outside our door.
Sewer Lining Project at N Whipple
Irving Park neighbors who live on Whipple from Addison to Cornelia should have received written notice at their homes of a sewer lining project now underway.
Here’s what you should expect:
During workdays, mobilization will start at 6:00 am. Actual work will begin at 7:00 am. Work is expected to be completed by 7 p.m. No Parking signs will be posted in the immediate area of work a day before any scheduled work. Residents are urged to move their vehicles away from the worksite to avoid being towed. It will be necessary to close lanes of these streets to ensure public safety during work hours. Equipment and materials will be on the street during the work. If necessary, detours and alternative bus stops will be posted.
A day prior to the main sewer lining, contractors will provide door hangers to inform residents of the work. During the main sewer lining work, to prevent odors in your home, please pour two to three cups of water into each basement floor drain. Please restrict your water usage as much as possible
Sewer Cleaning on N Troy from Addison to Eddy
This rehabilitation work includes cleaning the sewers and the installation of CIPP (Cure in place pipe). The installation of CIPP consists of lining the existing sewers and generally does not require excavation except when repairs are required prior to lining of the sewer main, catch basin lateral connections, catch basin structures or manhole structures.
The work is scheduled to be completed by February, 2022. It is performed in staggered stages, therefore crews will not be on-site every day for the extended period described. As they begin lining the main sewers, residents will be provided with a letter/flyers with notification of the work for each project location. No parking signs will be posted in the immediate area a workday prior to the start of any scheduled work. It will be necessary to close some lanes, but the streets will remain open to traffic.
Lead Service Line Replacement Program
The Department of Water Management has started Phase 1 of the lead service line replacement program and has provided the following information on two programs for qualifying homeowners who want to replace their lead service lines. If you are interested in participating, please visit www.LeadSafeChicago.org for more information:
- Homeowner-Initiated. The City will waive up to $3,100 in permit fees for any resident homeowner who wishes to replace their lead service line. The fee waiver will not be available if the request is made in conjunction with a structural renovation.
- Equity Program. To offer assistance to those most in need of lead service line replacement, residents whose water persistently tests over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Action Level of 15 parts per billion of lead and have a household income below 80% of the area median income, may qualify for a free lead service line replacement. For the Equity LSLR Program, residences must be owner-occupied and either a single-family or two-flat home.
If you have not yet had your water tested using the free lead testing kits that are provided by the city, please contact my office at 773-887-3772 or 311 to request a free water test kit.Street Resurfacing
West Irving Park Road from North Ravenswood Avenue to North Kolmar Avenue.
The work will include ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter removal and replacement as needed for ADA and drainage compliance, bus pad construction, pavement patching, milling and paving the existing asphalt pavement, and striping.
During construction, temporary “No Parking” signs will be periodically installed as required for each activity listed above. These temporary signs will restrict parking during working hours, while adhering to rush hour restrictions, for the completion of the work. All work on this corridor is scheduled to be completed November 30, 2021.North Sacramento Avenue from North Elston Avenue to North Milwaukee Avenue
The work will include ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter removal and replacement as needed for ADA and drainage compliance, pedestrian refuge island, pavement patching, milling and paving the existing asphalt pavement, and striping.
During construction, temporary “No Parking” signs will be periodically installed as required for each activity listed above. These temporary signs will restrict parking during working hours, while adhering to rush hour restrictions, for the completion of the work. All work on this corridor is scheduled to be completed October 29, 2021.
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