News

Aired on June 3rd, co-hosts Deacon Richard Hudzik and Deacon Dave Brencic interviewed two individuals who have a heart for responding to those in our communities who are facing economic or other stresses of life—those who need food, clothing, shelter, or help with utility bills, or employment. Chicago Deacon Jesse Blanco and Mr. Michael Syslo, vice-president of the Archdiocese of Chicago St. Vincent de Paul Society, spoke about the organization of the Society, its spiritual history in the charism of Blessed Frederic Ozanam, as well as the current work of the more than ninety parishes in the Archdiocese with active St. Vincent de Paul groups. Deacon Jesse spoke of his transformative experiences as spiritual guide for the Society at St. Frances of Rome, as well as in nearby parishes.

View a live stream of the show at https://www.youtube.com/user/CatholicChicago
Listen online at https://radiotv.archchicago.org/radio/diakonia-a-call-to-service

**DEADLINE TO APPLY EXTENDED THROUGH 11:59 PM June 15, 2021**

It was announced Monday, May 24, 2021 that the Chicago Department of Housing opened the third round of rental assistance for tenants and landlords since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) includes nearly $80 million funded through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act signed into law by Congress in December 2020 and will offer up to 15 months of rental assistance and utility payment assistance for impacted renters.

This is an encouraging action that will serve as a resource for many of our neighbors in need who are reaching out to the Society for rental assistance. The first round of Rental Assistance in March of 2020 saw over 83,000 applications, but with only $2 million available, it could only help 2000,000 households. A second round saw $24 million dollars go to 10,000 households. Mayor Lightfoot believes this third round of $80 million in funding will help prevent an unprecedented number of evictions now that Governor Pritzker is phasing out the moratorium by August. “Over the course of this incredibly difficult year, our residents, especially our most vulnerable ones, have faced unimaginable loss that is compounded by a systemic poverty and lack of access to safe, affordable housing,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “The Emergency Rental Assistance Program will not only help to relieve these residents of the fear of losing their homes and being thrown further into uncertainty and socioeconomic instability but allow our city to make significant progress in our mission to provide our communities with resources they need to thrive long after this pandemic is over.”

To read the full press release from the Office of the Mayor, click here.
To apply, please visit the application site at  chicago.gov/renthelp

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Applications are open now through 11:59 PM June 15, 2021, at chicago.gov/renthelp. In addition, a call center will provide support in multiple languages to help renters and landlords complete their applications. The call center number is 312-698-0202 and will be open from 9 AM to 7 PM Monday through Friday and 10 AM through 6 PM on Saturdays. It will be closed Sundays and on Memorial Day. 
To be eligible for ERAP, tenants must:  

• Live in Chicago 
• Have suffered a hardship due to COVID-19, such as job loss, reduced hours, or illness within the household 
• Be at risk of housing instability 
• Have earned less than the maximum household income during 2020 or at the time of application (income limits can be found at Chicago.gov/renthelp) 

Landlords can apply for assistance on behalf of a tenant. Landlords may also register their properties using the online application and be notified if a tenant has started the application process for rental assistance. Household income limits apply, and proof of address, income self-certification, and other documentation are needed to qualify. Proof of citizenship is not a requirement for qualification. Funds will be distributed on a rolling basis.  

Call Center

If you need assistance in completing the application, contact the ERAP Call Center at 312.698.0202. Translation service is available.

Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Memorial Day: Closed

Frequently Asked Questions

View the frequently asked question (FAQ) sheet for answers to common questions.

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Documentation Requirements

Tenants must have the following documents to complete an application:

• A government-issued photo ID
• Eligible documents: driver’s license, state ID, CityKey ID card, green cards, U.S. or foreign passports, or any other U.S. or foreign photo ID
• Proof of address (if the address on your ID is not current)
• Eligible documents: a bank or credit card statement, utility bill, lease, or other document showing your current address
• Proof of household income
• Eligible documents: paystubs, tax forms, bank statements, signed statement from your employer or case worker, or a signed statement from the applicant
• Proof of amount of monthly rent paid
• Eligible documents: lease, statement from landlord, bank statements, check stubs showing a pattern of paying rent, or other documents showing a pattern of paying rent
• Tenants who do not have one of these documents will be eligible for three months of rental assistance based on typical housing costs for their zip code.
• Most recent utility bill (if applying for utility assistance)
• Landlord’s contact information (email or phone number)

Landlords must have the following documents to complete an application:

• Proof of ownership
• Eligible documents: tax forms, property tax bill, deed, or mortgage statement
• Property management agreement (if a property manager is applying on behalf of the owner)
• Tax Identification Number of the owner

SVdP Chicago, in partnership with the Academy of St. Benedict the African and the Greater Chicago Food Depository is hosting a Mobile Produce Pantry on June 8th, 2021 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm. All who are in need within the community are welcome! The event takes place in school parking lot, entrance is on Justine St. For driving directions, please use the school’s address 6020 S. Laflin Ave Chicago, IL 60636.

We will be hosting Community Mobile Food Pantries at the school over the summer months on Tuesday, July 13, and Tuesday, August 10. On all dates the hours of distribution will be from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

If you would like to volunteer to help us in our efforts to set up, distribute food items, and clean up, please contact us! You can call the main office at (773) 779-6700 or email Jen Ahern at jen@svdpchicago.org.

Illinois Rental Payment Program
The Illinois Rental Payment Program (ILRPP) will provide direct funding to support Illinois tenants unable to pay their rent due to a COVID-19-related loss of income. Approved applicants will receive one-time grants of up to $25,000 paid directly to their landlords to cover missed rent payments as far back as June 2020 and prepay payments through August 2021, or until the $25,000 is exhausted, whichever comes first. Applications for ILRPP will be accepted Monday, May 17 through Monday, June 7.

The Illinois Rental Payment Program is now open for landlords only.

Housing providers/landlords may initiate a joint application starting Monday, May 17 through Monday, June 7.
-Tenants will have until Monday, June 14 to complete their portion of a landlord-initiated application.

Tenants may initiate their own application starting Wednesday, June 9 through Monday, June 28.
-Landlords will have until Tuesday, July 6 to complete their portion of the tenant-initiated application.

To apply, please visit the application site at ILRPP.IHDA.org.

Eligibility Requirements
In order to receive financial assistance through ILRPP, tenants must meet all of the following:

• Household is behind on their rent for at least 30 days
• Household lives in Illinois and rents their home as their primary residence
• Household’s total gross income cannot exceed 80% Area Median Income for location
• Household must have experienced a financial hardship directly — or indirectly — due to the pandemic, for example:
  • Being laid off
  • Place of employment has closed
  • Reduction in hours of work
  • Loss of spousal/child support
  • Inability to find work due to COVID-19
  • Having to stay home with children due to closure of daycare/school
  • Unable to participate in previous employment due to the workplace’s high risk of severe illness from COVID-19
  • At risk of homelessness or housing instability
  • Documentation Requirements

Housing Providers:

• Evidence of past-due rent
• Copy of 2019 Property Tax Bill or 2021 monthly mortgage statement
• Grant payment information for check distribution
• Current signed lease (if available)
• SSN or ITIN
• Employer Identification Number (if payment is made to a business entity)
• Rental unit information (unit type, address, rent amount)
• Fully executed and current property management agreement (if payment is made to a property manager)
• Valid email address

Tenants:

• Government-issued photo ID
• A utility bill or proof of address (if the address on your ID is not your current address)
• Monthly rent and amount past-due
• Proof of household income in 2020
• Proof of public assistance (if applicable)
• Valid email address
• Proof of immigration status (or social security number) is not required

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Utilities Assistance and Shutoff Avoidance Programs
To assist low-income families impacted by the COVID-19 crisis the Help Illinois Families program was announced in 2020. The program is aimed at providing emergency relief on household costs through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) programs. To date, more than 260,000 households have received $280 million in benefits through the CSBG and LIHEAP programs, which includes the Utility Disconnection Avoidance Program (UDAP) funds directly credited to customer accounts in threat of imminent disconnection. There is $30 million in LIHEAP funding still available for new clients through the end of the current program year which ends May 31, 2021. A new program year will begin September 1, 2021, and residents qualifying for LIHEAP will have access to additional funds provided to the state through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

More information on how to apply for Help Illinois Families can be found on HelpIllinoisFamilies.com.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Community Services Block Grant Program (CSBG) Application Agencies:
Cook County (Chicago)
Cook County (Suburbs)
Lake County

Invitation to Serve – St. Benedict Parish, Blue Island
Thanks to Msgr. Dennis Lyle from St. Benedict Parish in Blue Island for allowing SVdP Chicago President Harry Ohde, Lynn Sloyan (former president of St. Walter SVdP Conference), and Elvia Rojas, SVdP Chicago Office Manager, to present an Invitation to Serve at Masses on April 11th. The Invitation to Serve offers parishioners the opportunity to grow in Vincentian service, friendship, and spirituality and was shared after the 9:00 am English Mass and 11:00 am Spanish Mass.  St. Benedict will be uniting with St. Walter and St. Peter Claver Mission effective July 1, 2021, to form a new parish, with a new name to be decided. We are very excited to be creating a new SVdP Chicago Conference at the soon-to-be new parish in District VI!
On April 22nd, SVdP Chicago hosted an initial meeting in the evening to share more information on our mission and how we serve. 11 parishioners attended and shared their interest in learning how they can help people in their communities. Attendees were enthusiastic and said they were looking forward to becoming Vincentians! A second meeting will be scheduled in May as we continue the process of forming a bilingual Conference at St. Benedict.

Invitación a servir – Parroquia de St. Benedict en Blue Island
Gracias a Mons. Dennis Lyle de la parroquia St. Benedict en Blue Island por permitir que el presidente del SVdP
Chicago, Harry Ohde, Lynn Sloyan (expresidente de la Conferencia de St. Walter SVdP) y Elvia Rojas, gerente de
la oficina de SVdP Chicago, presenten una invitación para servir en las misas el 11 de abril y 18 de abril. La
Invitación a servir ofrece a los feligreses la oportunidad de crecer en el servicio Vicentino, la amistad y la
espiritualidad y se compartió después de la misa en inglés de las 9:00 am y la Misa en español de las 11:00 am.
St. Benedict se unirá con St. Walter y St. Peter Claver Mission a partir del 1 de julio de 2021 para formar una
nueva parroquia, con un nuevo nombre por decidir. ¡Estamos muy emocionados en crear una nueva
conferencia de SVdP Chicago en el pronto será parroquia en el Distrito VI!
El 22 de abril, SVdP Chicago organizó una reunión inicial por la noche para compartir más información sobre
nuestra misión y cómo servimos. 11 feligreses asistieron y compartieron su interés en aprender cómo pueden
ayudar a las personas en sus comunidades. ¡Los asistentes estaban entusiasmados y dijeron que estaban
ansiosos por convertirse en Vicentinos! Se programará una segunda reunión en mayo mientras continuamos el
proceso de formar una Conferencia bilingüe en St. Benedict.

SVdP Chicago, in partnership with the Academy of St. Benedict the African and the Greater Chicago Food Depository is hosting a Mobile Produce Pantry on May 11, 2021 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm. All who are in need within the community are welcome! The event takes place in front of the school entrance on Justine St. For driving directions, please use the school’s address 6020 S. Laflin Ave Chicago, IL 60636.

We will be hosting Community Mobile Food Pantries at the school over the summer months on June 8, July 13, and August 10. On all dates the hours of distribution will be from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

If you would like to volunteer to help us in our efforts to set up, distribute food items, and clean up, please contact us! You can call the main office at (773) 779-6700 or email Jen Ahern at jen@svdpchicago.org.

Today we have the opportunity to change the lives of a family! The St. Gilbert’s SVdP Conference in Grayslake is seeking a vehicle donation for a friend in need. The vehicle will be given to a single mother with 3 children, an 11-year-old daughter, a 10-year-old son, and a 4-year-old son, who has been renting a small motel room. She is participating in the IL Link Program to help feed her family and has been working periodically for a temporary service company. The lack of reliable transportation makes full-time employment extremely difficult. A trustworthy vehicle will enable this mother to provide a more stable environment for her children to grow and flourish, and place the family on a pathway to better tomorrows!

If you, or someone you know, has a vehicle that they would like to donate to help make a difference in this hard-working mother’s life, please contact:

Robert Palo – SVdP St. Gilbert President
palofamily@sbcglobal.net

Your support is most appreciated, thank you!

God Bless,
Harry Ohde
CEO/President SVdP Chicago, ADC

SVdP Chicago is hosting a New and Improved Ozanam Orientation on May 17, 18, and 19 2021. It is a 3-part webinar series that will begin at 1:00 pm each afternoon. End times: 5/17- 3:30 pm, 5/18- 3:45 pm, 5/19 -3:00 pm

In order to get credit for attending this required program, you must attend all three parts. You may attend one or two of the parts now and pick up the rest at a later date. This is a virtual interactive presentation rather than in-person training and requires your attendance through the use of a computer, iPad, Smartphone, or like device. To participate, you cannot attend simply by telephone (landline) because you must see the presentation as well as hear it. Additional Information will be sent when you register.

Who should attend?
– New members – to learn who we are, what we are about, and how you can help to transform our culture.
– Existing members – to get reacquainted with how you can help to transform our culture.

What Will Be Discussed?
– As a Member, Do You Know Your Title?
– What is Our History?
– What is Vincentian Spirituality?
– What are SVdP’s Cultural Beliefs?
– What are SVdP’s Key Results?
– What is SVdP Culture?
– How You Can Help Transform SVdP?
– Do You Understand Poverty?
– Why do we make Home Visits?

Register Today! Email Mike Syslo at mike.syslo@outlook.com with your Name, Conference, District, Phone, Home Address, and Email Address. Additional information will be sent to you via email after you register.

The Eviction Moratorium in the state of Illinois has been extended until April 3, 2021, which allows those impacted by COVID-19 to remain in their residences despite late and missed payments. Just this week, the CDC has signed an extension on the agency’s moratorium on evictions through June 30, further preventing the eviction of tenants who are unable to make rental payments.

Click here to read the full CDC Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19

We know from talking to the many that reach out to SVdP Chicago for rental and utility bill assistance, that missed payments are piling up and a looming crisis hangs over the heads of many as they attempt to keep current with household bills while working to catch up with late rent balances. “About 42% of Illinois residents are behind in their rent due to COVID,” said Karla Chrobak of CARPLS, a Chicago-based legal aid organization. “We’re talking millions of dollars of back rent, millions.”

In Suburban Cook County there is financial help available to assist renters now. Applications are now open for the Cook County Emergency Rental Assistance program. It pays up to $15,000 to help cover 12 months of missed rent and utilities payments and up to 3 months of future rent payments. Payments will be made directly to the landlord and utility company. The deadline to apply has been extended and applications now open until April 9 at 5:00 pm.

Click here for the online application and more details

Sometime in April or May, the state of Illinois expects to open up its Emergency Rental Assistance program where renters can apply up to $25,000. Same for Chicago residents, who will have their own program with no financial cap.   Click here for Illinois rental assistance resources
All programs are run like a lottery system and an application is not a guarantee. We are hoping these current and forthcoming resources can be of use to the friends in need SVdP Chicago Council, Districts, and Conferences serve.