Follow the 50th Ward on Social Media Email is not the only way to get news from the 50th Ward. I also post frequently on social media to advise the public on emerging information. Please follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to make sure you get all of the updates as soon as they are available. | | Dear Neighbor,
Free COVID Tests Free COVID-19 home-tests are now in stock at the 50th Ward Office. Come to 2949 W. Devon to pick up your test kits. Tests will be available while supplies last during the following hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9 AM - 4 PM
Friday: 9 AM - 3 PM
The health and safety of the 50th Ward is my chief priority, and I have been proud to be able to distribute thousands of test kits, face masks, and bottles of hand sanitizer throughout the pandemic.
The tests currently available are the Flowflex COVID-19 Antigen Home Test kits. They can be taken anywhere and return results in 15 minutes with no lab drop-off required. For more information about the tests, including instructional videos, visit flowflexcovid.com.
PLEASE NOTE: In response to new data, the FDA has extended the expiration date of many at-home COVID tests, including the Flowflex kits I now have available. The extended expiration date for these tests is November 2023:
An extended expiration date means the manufacturer provided data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized. For more information or to check the current expiration dates of any tests you may have at home, please click here. The expiration dates of many tests have been extended, so please check the online list before you throw away a test kit.
Rogers Park Township Property Tax Appeal Rogers Park Township is now open for property tax appeals through the Cook County Board of Review. Join me for a special tax appeal workshop—held together with Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele—to learn how you can appeal your valuation and potentially lower your taxes!
Join us on Wednesday, January 18 from 6 PM - 8 PM at Chicago Math and Science Academy, 7212 N. Clark Street. The assessment of your home is one of the most important factors in determining how much you will pay in property taxes. Join us to learn how to appeal your valuation and possibly lower your tax bill.
Homeowners can also file an appeal online at appeals.cookcountyboardofreview.com or download a printable form here. Rogers Park Township property owners have until Wednesday, January 25 to file an appeal.
Rogers Park Township encompasses the area of the 50th Ward that is north of Devon. Find your township here. If you have any questions, contact Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele's Office at (312) 603-5542 or Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita's Office at (312) 603-6383.
Free Tax Preparation Assistance I know nobody wants to hear it, but tax season is once again right around the corner. Fortunately, the City of Chicago offers free tax preparation assistance to eligible working families to help you file your taxes and receive all of the deductions and tax credits to which you are entitled.
Tax Prep Chicago, in partnership with Ladder Up, is offering in-person services at seven locations across Chicago, starting as early as Monday, January 23. Visit www.TaxPrepChicago.org for information on site locations, dates, and hours.
Families earning up to $60,000 or individuals earning up to $32,000 are eligible to take advantage of the free and confidential income tax assistance. Trained volunteers will assist you in completing and electronically filing Federal and Illinois tax returns, and finding out if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), and other tax credits.
For more information, visit www.TaxPrepChicago.org.
Donations for Migrants I was proud to drop off another batch of local donations to help the new migrant arrivals in our neighborhood! We were also able to help coordinate a shipment of 300 pairs of boots to the volunteer effort.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed so generously! Thank you to the dedicated volunteers who make the program work, including Pastor Ed and Luisette Kraal and Pastor Jason LaLonde of Park Community Church.
If you would like to participate, please drop off donations at the 50th Ward Office during regular business hours. We are accepting new or gently-used winter coats and boots for men, women and children.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day This Monday, January 16 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Dr. King was an inspiration to Americans of all races. I feel privileged to serve in such a diverse community, which truly takes to heart his message of peace and harmony between all peoples.
MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service, and everyone is encouraged to make it "a day on, not a day off." I encourage you all to embrace Dr. King's message and find ways to serve your community.
Click here to learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. Day and find volunteer opportunities. For more information about Dr. King and his legacy, click here.
In observance of the holiday, there will be a change to garbage and recycling collection this upcoming week. All city-collected refuse and recycling will be serviced Tuesday through Friday. Residents should ensure all black and blue carts are accessible throughout the entire week, not just on their regular day of collection.
The 50th Ward Office will also be closed on Monday in observance of the holiday. We will reopen on Tuesday, January 17 at 9 AM. If you need assistance with any City Services while the office is closed, please call 311 or visit 311.chicago.gov.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,  Debra L. Silverstein Alderman, 50th Ward | | Free Community Yard Signs Free yard signs are now available for pickup at the 50th Ward Office, 2949 W. Devon. There are currently two signs in stock: "Caution - Children Playing" and "Clean Up After Your Dog." Stop by to pick up your free signs.
| | Warren Park Advisory Council Survey The Warren Park Advisory Council is seeking input from the community to help decide its focus and activities in 2023. Take the survey here by Wednesday, January 18.
The Advisory Council wants to hear from you on how Warren Park is doing and how they can improve your usage of it. A park Council is only as good as the people who are involved with it, so they welcome your thoughts and ideas on how to best serve the community in 2023.
For any questions, email the Warren Park Advisory Council at warrenparkac@gmail.com. | | 2023 Police CAPS Meeting Schedule The Chicago Police Department has released the CAPS beat meeting schedule for 2023. Please CLICK HERE to find your local beat meetings. The 50th Ward includes five police beats: - Beat 2411 - Between Howard and Pratt
- Beat 2412 - Between Pratt and Devon
- Beat 2413 - Between Devon and Peterson
- Beat 1711 - Peterson Park
- Beat 2011 - South of Peterson
Find your police beat at https://operations.chicagopolice.org/FindMyDistrict.
PLEASE NOTE: The 24th District is changing the beat meeting schedule this year. CAPS meetings will now be held every other month. The local beat facilitators will also be holding community meetings in each intervening month. No police officers will be in attendance at the community meetings, but they will help keep the lines of communication open and will serve as valuable opportunities to discuss safety concerns with your neighbors. | | Cook County Listening Tour |  | | Small Business Improvement Grants - Lincoln Ave TIF Local small business owners will soon be able to apply for funding to improve their facilities. The City of Chicago will accept Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) applications from business owners in the Lincoln Avenue TIF from February 1 until March 3.
The SBIF program uses Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue to help owners repair or remodel their facilities and improve their businesses. Tenant businesses are also eligible to apply. Grants up to $150,000 are available for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties.
This round of funding is only available for businesses within the Lincoln Avenue TIF. To find out if your business is within the TIF, visit https://webapps1.cityofchicago.org/ChicagoTif.
The Department of Planning and Development will be holding an informational webinar to discuss the program on Wednesday, February 1 at 1 PM. Register for the webinar here.
For more information about the SBIF program, visit chicago.gov/sbif. | | Skate in the Parks Enjoy a fun winter of skating in the parks! The Warren Park ice rink, and outdoor ice rinks across the city, are now open for the season. Pre-registration is required for all programs, including open skate sessions. Register online here.
Admission is free, and skates are available for rental. For questions, please contact Warren Park at (773) 761-8663. For more information and a list of all ice rink locations, visit the Park District website here. | | Prevent Frozen Pipes When temperatures drop for prolonged periods of time, the chance of pipes freezing and rupturing becomes a very real possibility. Frozen pipes can cause costly damage to homes and leave vulnerable residents without access to running water.
The Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) encourages residents to act now to make sure pipes in homes are properly insulated and not exposed to freezing air. Specifically, homeowners should: - Keep your home adequately heated.
- Make sure that warm air can circulate under cabinets and in areas where there is plumbing on the outside walls.
- Keep a trickle of water running at the faucet farthest from where the main water line enters your home. A small trickle of water can prevent thousands of dollars in property damage.
If you do have a pipe freeze, use a blow dryer or heating pad to thaw it, not an open flame. For more information, visit www.chicago.gov/water. | | Home and Business Protection Program Expansion The City of Chicago is expanding the Home and Business Protection Program (HBPP) to remove financial barriers and ensure that more Chicago residents have access to private security devices. Income-eligible residents can now apply for private security devices and pick them up at the 50th Ward Office once approved.
In addition, all Chicago residents—regardless of income—can still apply for a rebate to cover the costs of new outdoor security cameras, cloud storage for video footage, outdoor motion-sensor lighting, vehicle GPS trackers, and subscription costs. Residents as well as business, religious, and non-profit organizations are eligible.
Visit chicago.gov/hbpp for the applications and the full eligibility criteria. Contact HBPP@cityofchicago.org or (312) 742-3317 for any questions.
Residents also have the option to register new or existing security camera systems with the Chicago Police Department to help solve crimes faster. To register your cameras or to learn more, visit chicagopolice.org/cameraregistration. | | Emergency Heating Repair Program The Emergency Heating Repair Program is now open to new applicants. This program provides grants for income-eligible Chicago homeowners to repair or replace their furnace or boiler heating system. Limited funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Emergency Heating Repair Program is available to Chicagoans who own and occupy one-to-four unit residential buildings. Households earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI) are eligible to participate in the program.
Enrollment will be accepted until April 1, 2023, or until all funds have been exhausted. The application package is available online at www.chicago.gov/ehrp. Call (312) 744-3653 to speak with a customer service representative about the program. | | Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund Homeowners struggling to keep up with housing payments can now apply for up to $60,000 in assistance. The Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) is now open to support qualified homeowners who need help with past-due mortgage payments and related expenses due to financial hardships associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications will be accepted at www.illinoishousinghelp.org until 11:59 PM. on January 31, 2023.
Eligible households can apply for grants for past-due mortgage payments,
property taxes, property insurance and homeowner and/or condo association fees. Payments will be made directly to the mortgage servicer, taxing body or other eligible entity once a homeowner's application has been approved.
To qualify for ILHAF, Illinois homeowners must meet the following criteria: - Be at least 30 days late on one or more of mortgage loan, property tax, property insurance and/or HOA/condo association fee payments.
- Have a household income at or below 150% Area Median Income.
- Own and occupy a home in Illinois as a primary residence.
- Experienced financial hardship after Jan. 21, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic (including a hardship that began before Jan. 21, 2020 but continued after that date).
More information on the application process, including videos on how to apply, a complete list of required documents and other housing help can be found at www.illinoishousinghelp.org. | | Property Tax Appeal Workshop Flyer |  | | Serve as an Election Judge |  | | Christmas Tree Recycling |  | | Human Trafficking Task Force Webinar |  | | | |
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