Residents,

As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to impact our community, we are sharing important information with you.Recent Updates 

  • Reopening Chicago’s Lake Front The City’s Lakefront Trail reopened on Monday, June 22, 2020, and will be open daily from 6am to 7pm. To find out more details about what to expect, please click here.
  • Phase IV Reopening City of Chicago Phase 4 of reopening is set to begin this Friday, June 26, 2020. For more information, please click here.
  • Business Interruption Grants (BIG) and the new Rebuild Distressed Capital program Governor Pritzker announced a significant business and community assistance package geared toward supporting communities and businesses impacted by the pandemic and civil unrest. The package includes more than $900 million across more than ten programs and four state agencies to help working families and small businesses who have been hit the hardest by the COVID19’s economic impacts, which was compounded by recent property damage and civil unrest. The application for the BIG program will be available on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. For more information, please click here. For the BIG application please click here
  • City of Chicago “Together Now” Small Business Fund Applications are now open for the “Together Now” fund launched this month by Mayor Lightfoot to provide financial relief for Chicago small businesses and non-profits that have experienced economic distress due to COVID-19 or recent property damage. The application deadline is Monday, June 29, 2020. For more information, please click here.
  • Chicago Resilience Fund Stimulus Payments  In conjunction with The Resurrection Project, the Chicago Resiliency Fund will award $1,000 stimulus payments to Chicago residents who did not receive a stimulus payment from the federal government, due to ineligibility.  Eligible individuals may include those who are undocumented, dependent adults, mixed status families, and college students. More information on eligibility and the application process can be found here: https://resurrectionproject.org/chicagofund/
  • Street Cleaning Enforcement Begins on July 1, 2020 For the street cleaning schedule for this community, please click here.
  • ComEd Announces Comprehensive Covid -19 Package To help families and communities recover from the economic challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, ComEd, the staff of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) and a broad group of stakeholders, worked to develop a comprehensive customer support package. For more information, please click here
  • PPE Exchange To help businesses, non-profits, and other entities planning to reopen in acquiring PPE equipment, the City has launched an exchange program designed to assist in this process. To learn more, visit chicagoppemarket.com
  • Restaurants and Bars Can Open Indoor Seating on Friday, June 26, 2020 The City made the announcement last week that part of the City’s Phase 4 framework that allows patrons of restaurants and bars to be seated indoors beginning on June 26, 2020. While indoor seating can begin Friday, operators should continue to make outdoor seating a priority for safe dining and drinking. Please read the industry guidelines closely for an overview of the rules restaurants and bars must follow as they reopen indoor service.
  • The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) announced two funding opportunities to support Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) programming in historically undeserved communities across Illinois. Grants are available for community assessment and planning initiatives and service delivery  To find out more details about this program, please click here.
  • Landmark Illinois’ Timuel D. Black, Jr. Grant Fund for Chicago’s South Side Grant  Timuel D. Black, Jr., acclaimed civil rights leader, educator, historian, author and WWII veteran, has devoted his life to promoting African American history, specifically on the South Side of Chicago where he has lived for the majority of his 101 years. In honor of Mr. Black’s dedication to preserving his neighborhood’s legacy, Landmark’s created the Timuel D. Black, Jr. Grant Fund for Chicago’s South Side. For more information, please click here
  • SECC’s 2020 Neighborhood Enhancement Grant  The SECC’s 2020 Neighborhood Enhancement Grant application is now available. The SECC offers grants to neighborhood organization and community groups to support beautification projects, enhance the quality of life, and improve local neighborhoods. For more information, please click here
  • COVID Testing To receive a test in the 4th Ward, we encourage residents to visit Near North Komed Holman Health Center (4259 S. Berkeley). The center is conducting tests Mon-Fri from 9am-noon and 1 pm-4pm. For more information regarding this site, please call (773) 268-7600. To view other testing sites in or near the 4th Ward, we have put together a helpful list of testing sites. This list can be accessed here
  • Cook County Treasurer Tax Assistance Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas has announced an extensive outreach program designed to refund county residents more than $75 million in available property tax refunds, as well as $34 million in missing exemption going back four years. To see if your property is eligible for these refunds, visit cookcountytreasurer.com and click the purple box. 
  • Face Masks Our office has a limited supply of face masks for residents. If you are in need of a mask, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Health

  • Reported Illinois Cases Currently, there are 136,762 confirmed cases of COVID-19 identified in Illinois. As this outbreak has spread globally, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is tracking it closely and is using data to guide its response.
  • Chi COVID Coach The City has launched Chi COVID Coach, a mobile friendly, web-based application to support residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. This forward-thinking app will allow CDPH to communicate directly with Chicago residents who may be COVID-19 positive or experiencing symptoms, providing them important information and guidance. The first app of its kind, Chi COVID Coach creates an opportunity for pre-registration for vaccine dissemination once it becomes available, among many other things. To get started, visit: www.Chicago.gov/covidcoach.
  • Mental Health Emotional reactions to this emerging health crisis are expected. Remind yourself, your family and your friends that feeling sad, anxious, overwhelmed or having other symptoms of distress, such as trouble sleeping, is normal. If symptoms become worse, encourage them, and yourself, to reach out for support and help. Call 311 or NAMI Chicago Helpline 833-626-4244 for a mental health counselor. Bright Star Community Outreach also has a helpline at 833-TURN-123. For after hours, there is the Crisis Text Line which serves anyone, in any type of crisis, 24-hours a day. Instructions: Text HELLO to: 741741 to access a trained crisis counselor.
  • Individuals and Communities should familiarize themselves with recommendations to protect themselves and their communities from contracting and spreading respiratory illnesses like COVID-19
  • Older People and People with Severe Chronic Conditions should take special precautions because they are at higher risk of developing COVID-19.

Housing 

  • Rental Assistance The City of Chicago has an emergency rental assistance program. This program provides financial assistance to eligible Chicago residents, individuals and families, who are in danger of eviction, in order to stabilize them in their existing rental unit, to prevent homelessness. For more information about this program, please click here.
  • Property Taxes The Cook County Assessor’s Office has announced the temporary suspension of assessment notice mailings and appeal deadlines. This suspension will remain in place until further notice while the office remains closed to the public.
  • Mortgage Relief for Apartment Owners: The Federal Housing Finance Agency has announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will grant mortgage forbearance to owners of multifamily properties in exchange for suspending evictions. The forbearance applies to all Fannie and Freddie-backed mortgages in situations where renters cannot afford to make their monthly payments due to Coronavirus. For more information, please visit the FHFA website here

Business/Non-Profit

  • 4th Ward Food Establishments The 4th Ward is home to many fantastic small businesses and food establishments, some of which have remained open for delivery or takeout. Our office has been compiling a list of these establishments, which can be found here. If we missed a business, or their hours of operation have since changed, please let us know.
  • Small Business Resource Navigators To provide additional individualized support to our neighborhood businesses, Chicago’s Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection has created Small Business Resource Navigators. These navigators consist of ten business service organizations who area prepared to provide 1:1 counseling and support to help business owners navigate the financial and support resources available to them. These groups have been trained by the SBA to help business owners access federal funding dollars as they become available. 
  • Unemployment Insurance The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the United States economy, leading to an unprecedented number of unemployment claims. Through the five weeks from March 1 to April 4, Illinois received 513,173 initial unemployment claims. That is greater than the total number of initial claims for the entirety of 2019 (489,831) and five times greater than the claims filed in the first five weeks of the 2008 great recession. The state is taking steps to increase the capacity of the system as well as expanding the pool of individuals who can be covered by unemployment insurance. For more information, click here.
  • Community- and faith-based organizations should review existing emergency operations plans, including strategies for social distancing and modifying large gatherings. Community-based organizations should take steps to protect both the clients they serve and their employees. See CDPH’s COVID-19 Guidance for Community- and Faith-based Organizations. 

Government/Infrastructure 

  • Where is My Stimulus Check? Many individuals have yet to receive their stimulus check from the Treasury Department. While the federal government is working diligently to distribute these checks, a good amount of eligible individuals have not yet received their checks. The IRS has created a helpful tool to check the status of your check. To check your status, click here
  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Recently, Illinois began providing unemployment benefits through the CARES Act Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. PUA provides benefits for individuals (1) who are out of work due to a specific COVID-19 related reason and (2) who have been determined ineligible for state unemployment benefits. For more information regarding this program, click here
  • 2020 Census is currently underway. The census takes place every ten years and is used to determine how federal tax dollars and resources are distributed. Therefore, it is imperative that individuals complete their census forms to ensure that our city receives adequate funding and representation in Congress. Currently, 43.3 percent of households in the 4th Ward have completed their census information, slightly below the total city’s amount of 44.8 percent. If you need more information regarding the census, click here
  • Parks & Libraries  Mayor Lightfoot also announced the closure of Park District facilities and Libraries. For more information, please click here.
  • Ticketing Enforcement There has been some confusion regarding the issuance of parking tickets in the city. While the number of enforcement agents has been decreased, tickets will still be issued for the following violations: bus lane, bicycle path, rush hour parking, parking in the fire lane, fire lane blockage, alley blockage, driveway blockage, double parking, standing zone violations, parking in a disabled parking spot, and expired meters. 
  • CARES ACT On Friday, March 27, 2020, the Federal Government authorized the CARES Act, a comprehensive federal government stimulus plan which will support citizens, businesses and industries during these times. For a brief overview of the stimulus plan click here. For a small business specific overview, click here. The act in its entirety can be found here
  • Debt Relief Programs Mayor Lightfoot announced temporary suspension of debt collection, ticketing and towing practices to provide relief in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. For more information on this policy, please click here.

Miscellaneous

  • Coronavirus Survey The City wants to hear from residents about their goals and needs when it comes to reopening Chicago. They have created a survey for residents to take to assist with the reopening. To take the survey, click here
  • DIY Face Masks The CDC has created a helpful flyer to assist with the creation of homemade face masks. Instructions can be viewed here
  • 4th Ward Food Pantries Our office has compiled a list of all food pantries located in the 4th Ward. To access this list, click here. In addition, the Greater Chicago Food Depository is working extensively to support individuals dealing with food insecurity. If access to local food banks is an issue, please contact the depository here for information on alternative options. In addition to the facilities above, food will also be distributed at Grace Place (637 S. Dearborn) every Saturday morning at 8:30 am. 
  • Fight Stigma and Fear by understanding the facts about COVID-19 and taking the effective precautionary steps recommended by health professionals. Support people returning from COVID-19 quarantine and help reduce the spread of rumors by letting people know that viruses cannot target people from specific populations, ethnicities, or racial backgrounds.
  • Tax Filing Information Governor Pritzker has announced he will delay the Illinois state income tax filing deadline until July 15. This aligns with the new filing deadline for federal taxes, which is also July 15.  
  • Price Gouging To report price gouging, click here.
  • Event Organizers Stay informed on the latest developments and public health guidance. We strongly encourage groups to consider cancelling or postponing planned events.
  • Childcare Facilities and Colleges/Universities Closure of childcare facilities is still voluntary. See CDPH’s COVID-19 Guidance for Childcare Programs. Many institutions of higher learning are voluntarily closing their campuses and moving instruction online. See CDPH’s COVID-19 Guidance for Schools and Institutions of Higher Education.
  • If you have been in a country with widespread sustained transmission (any country with a Travel Alert Level 3) or have been exposed to someone sick with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, you will face some limitations on your movement and activity. Please follow instructions during this time. Your cooperation is integral to the ongoing public health response to try to slow the spread of this virus. 

The 4th Ward Service Office is closed during this time. However, our office is operating remotely. We kindly ask that any business you may have with our office be conducted via phone or email.

We can be reached at: (773) 536 8103 or Ward04@cityofchicago.org.  

Visit our new website at: King4thWard.com

 

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Fourth Ward, Chicago · 435 East 35th Street · Chicago, IL 60616 · USA

By CCNM

I have functioned as a Business and Media Consultant over the past sixteen years and spent many years developing my capacity to function in our ever evolving use of technology, communication, education and training.