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29th Ward participatory budgeting projects selected,

Vol. 35 No. 7

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February 17, 2021

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Also serving Garfield Park

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How to visit Garfifield ld Parkk Conservatory, PAGE 6

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Rush outlines plans to provide vaccines to West Siders The hospital has been vaccinating seniors through its Rush@Home program since Feb. 11 By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

Rush University Medical Center, 1620 W. Harrison St., recently started giving COVID-19 vaccines to homebound seniors on the West Side and in the west suburbs. The hospital is also gearing up for a much bigger effort to vaccinate high-risk Austin residents this spring. Under the current phase of Chicago’s vaccination program, Phase 1B, vaccines are available to people age 65 and older, residents of group settings, caregivers, medical professionals and most essential workers. But Rush and other hospitals haven’t been getting enough supplies to keep up with the demand, forcing them to limit vaccination hours. The center is still trying to get the vaccines it does have to West Siders who need it most. Since Feb. 11, it has been vaccinating homebound seniors who are part of the Rush@Home program, which provides services to patients who have trouble getting to the doctor’s office due to their health conditions. Rush is also preparing to send teams into Austin to vaccinate residents most at risk of getting COVID-19, though, as of Feb. 12, the details were still being worked out. When the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were first approved, they were only available to healthcare workers, and residents and staff of long-term care facilities. The city moved to Phase 1B on Jan. 25. Although Gov. JB Pritzker on Feb. 10 expanded eligibility to all Illinois residents See VACCINES on page 3

Art by Raziel Puma for City Bureau

SURVIVAL STORIES: In a special series about the COVID-19 housing crisis produced by City Bureau, West side residents shared their stories about trying to secure safe, affordable housing amid a pandemic.

The housing cliff

Some lost work. Others have been housing insecure for years. Renters in Chicago were already struggling to navigate a grim housing landscape. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. By JUSTIN AGRELO, NATALIE FRAZIER, MALIK JACKSON and WOOJAE JULIA SONG City Bureau

The Housing Cliff is a special series about the COVID-19 housing crisis produced by City Bureau, a civic journalism

lab based in Chicago. Access the full series online at citybureau.org. Andre Wallace has wanted to move for months. The West Garfield Park apartment he shares with his partner and their two small children is falling apart. The young couple didn’t even have a

usable kitchen the first two months of living there. Water pours from the ceiling whenever it rains, causing debris to fall into the apartment. The bathwater sometimes runs brown—if it runs at all. Wallace has struggled to get his landSee THE HOUSING CLIFF on page 11

Austin Weekly News, February 17, 2021

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Spring cannot come too soon

f all the snowstorms we’ve been having had occurred in November, I think I would be fully depressed by now. Long, cold, and snowy winter days just do not appease me. But knowing that the cold and snow came in February, with spring right around the corner, makes it a lot more tolerable. I cannot wait for spring to get here. I’ve been working on winter projects inside the house, all the while buying stuff for outside. I found a woman who sells wall decorations made out of recycled tin that is created by artisans in Haiti. My first purchase from her? A mermaid with dreadlocks. Although the artist had painted her, I decided to add a threedimensional effect by building up the paint and glitter on her seashell bra as well as adding big drops of gold paint onto her locks to give them the appearance of having hair ornaments. Now all I want to do is set her outside to watch over my deck. Even the foot-and-ahalf of snow out there is not preventing me from envisioning what it’s going to look like once the weather gets warm. One of the things I’m going to have to do is buy a shovel to permanently keep out on my deck over the winter. There was so much snow out there that I actually had to shovel it. The weight of snow can be extremely heavy. Just this past weekend, an

abandoned building collapsed in Englewood because of the weight of the snow. Or I may look into the possibility of putting heating coils on the deck for the winter to cause the snow to melt. I am going to have to check with an electrician to see if that is possible. I have so many plans to use my deck this year. As soon as the weather permits, I’m going to strip and refinish it. Many of the items I bought to decorate the deck will be installed and I will not concern myself with attempting to bring them in in the fall. For some reason, I missed what happened on Groundhog Day. In checking the internet, apparently Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. So if he’s correct, we’re going to have six more weeks of winter. I was very pleased to be in Dollar Tree the other day and saw the nice assortment of outdoor decorations they had. I bought a bunch of ceramic pot climbers. They are cute little whimsical figures that hook onto the side of the flower pot to give the impression of an animal climbing up a ladder into it. I also bought several boxes of flower seeds. I cannot wait to toss those seeds onto the ground and have beautiful flowers coming up in the spring and summer. Winter, please go away just like the year 2020 did!

ARLENE JONES

AUSTIN WEEKLY NEWS Mail your letter to the editor to: Austin Weekly News, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 or email michael@austinweeklynews.com

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Austin Weekly News, February 17, 2021

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MOBILIZING: Rush University Medical Center is gearing up to vaccinate high-risk Austin residents this spring. The center has already focused its vaccination efforts on homebound senior citizens on the West Side.

VACCINES

Distribution ahead from page 1 with underlying medical conditions, Chicago and suburban Cook County declined to follow suit, with government officials saying they didn’t have enough doses for it. Dr. David Ansell, Rush’s vice president for community health and equity, said that, as of Feb. 9, the hospital gave around 39,000 vaccine doses to medical staff, patients and residents who signed up online. At that point, Rush vaccinated around 40 percent of its eligible West Side and South Side patients. Ansell said that their efforts have been hampered by the limited supply. While they have 80,000 patients eligible under Phase 1B, the hospital only gets 3,900 vaccines a week. Since each patient gets two doses spaced three to four weeks apart, the actual amount available varies. “Because we are not getting enough vac-

cine, we are only vaccinating four days a week,” Ansell said. On March 29, the city is scheduled to start Phase 1C, which will cover all residents ages 16 and older with underlying medical conditions, and essential workers that didn’t fall under Phase 1B. Ansell said that Rush has “over 100,000” patients eligible for Phase 1C. But even with the limited supplies, Rush is working to encourage eligible West Siders to get vaccinated. “While the concerns about the vaccine are not surprising given the history of Black and Brown mistreatment, including by some in health care, in the name of medical science, it’s essential that we reach all communities in the effort to achieve herd immunity,” Ansell said in an earlier statement. On Jan. 27, Rush teamed up with West Side and South Side faith leaders to hold an in-person vaccination awareness event, where the participants got to ask questions about the vaccines and, if they are eligible, get their first shot. Rev. Marshall Hatch, of West Garfield Park’s New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Bap-

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tist Church, 4301 W. Washington Blvd., said that he hoped that getting vaccinated would not only encourage others to get it, but bring hope to the community. “Widespread vaccination represents faith and hope that we can turn the corner from this pandemic soon,” he said. “As clergy step forward to be vaccinated today, we demonstrate that faith leaders are hope leaders, as well.” Ansell said that Rush has been holding virtual community town halls to spread awareness. The center has also been going into the community more directly. Rush@Home is available to patients who have “two or more” chronic health conditions that make it hard for them to do household tasks on their own. Patients must live in either one of the West Side neighborhoods or in Oak Park, River Forest or Forest Park. Elisabeth Davis, Rush’s medical director of community health equity, said that the hospital’s goal is to give the first dose to all existing patients in the program and any other eligible members of the patients’ households, by Feb. 15.

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The center is part of the Chicago Vaccine Corps partnership, in which healthcare providers and community organizations team up with local residents to dispel the myths about the vaccines and, once the eligibility expands, vaccinate residents. Davis said that Rush will vaccinate “high-risk populations,” including residents of senior housing developments. “Rush has been asked by the city of Chicago to vaccinate in Austin in March and April, and we have begun to plan,” Ansell said. Rush spokesperson Charlie Jolie said that they don’t have a firm timetable for when the plan might be finalized, saying only that it would be “in the near future” and contingent on how many vaccine doses will be available. To register for vaccinations at Rush, visit https://www.rush.edu/patients-visitors/ covid-19-resources/covid-19-vaccines To find out more about Rush@Home program, visit https://www.rush.edu/patientsvisitors/rush-home-visits

CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

PHONE 773-626-6332 FAX 708-467-9066 CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com ONLINE www.AustinWeeklyNews.com TWITTER @AustinWeeklyChi Austin Weekly News is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. It is distributed free of charge at locations across Austin and Garfield Park. Our hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Advertising rates are available by calling our office. Printed entirely on recycled paper. © 2020 Growing Community Media NFP.

Austin Weekly News, February 17, 2021

29th Ward participatory budgeting projects revealed

29th Ward voters approve $600,000 for street resurfacing, $345,000 for community improvements, Ald. Taliaferro said By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

Residents in the 29th Ward recently voted to put 60 percent of the aldermanic menu funds into street resurfacing, leaving enough money for all but one community improvement project on the ballot. Every year, every alderman gets $1.4 million in city funds to spend on infrastructurerelated projects. Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) has been among a handful of aldermen and the only West Side alderman, to give his constituents a say in the spending through the participatory budgeting process. As it has been the case in the past year, 29th Ward residents ages 14 and up could vote on what portion of the money they wanted to spend on street resurfacing and how to spend the remaining amount. According to the ballot results released on Feb. 8 in Taliaferro’s official email newslet-

ter, the only project to lose out was the project to add neighborhood identification signs in the Galewood portion of North Avenue. And Columbus Park Fieldhouse, 500 S. Central Ave.; a new outdoor fitness course will be built at Austin Town Hall Park, 5610 W. Lake St.; several community gardens will get improvements, and bike lanes will be added on the portions of Austin Boulevard and Roosevelt Road. Because of the pandemic, this marked the first time the vote took place entirely on-

line. As of Friday afternoon, it was not clear how many residents ended up voting or how many votes each project got. Taliaferro’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment by deadline. At $168,000, the proposal to install metal neighborhood identification markers on the Galewood side of North Ave., between Austin Boulevard and Rutherford Avenue, was the most expensive project on the ballot. Because North Avenue is a state highway, any change to the street infrastructure

IMPROVEMENTS AHEAD: The Columbus Park Fieldhouse in Austin is slated for some creative improvements after residents voted for 29th Ward participatory budgeting projects.

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would need to be approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation. While some North Avenue participatory budgeting projects have gotten approved in the past, the Illinois Department of Transportation vetoed last year’s project to add a pedestrian island and pedestrian crossing bump-outs on the portion of North Avenue, midway between Natchez and Nagle avenues. In a Facebook post announcing the results, Judith Alexander, head of North Avenue District Inc., simply commented, “Oh, well, there’s always next year.” The $400,000 left over after the streetscaping will be enough to cover all of the remaining projects, with $55,000 to spare. The most expensive project on that list is a $150,000 bike lanes project. Another $60,000 will go toward building the Austin Town Hall fitness course. The Columbus Park and Sayer murals will cost $60,000 and $25,000, respectively. Both murals would be painted by artists contracted by the city with input from the local youth. In addition, $20,000 will go toward a community garden in Columbus Park, as well as the Harambee Community Garden at 455 N. Waller Ave.; and $30,000 would go toward speed bumps and stop signs throughout the ward.

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Austin Weekly News, February 17, 2021

Black moms 6 times more likely to die in pregnancy than whites

The concerns of Black mothers often go unheard in hospitals, a Start Early doula said By PASCAL SABINO Block Club Chicago

When Denise Cain went into labor with her first child, she wasn’t given a wheelchair at the hospital. Provided Despite complaining of severe pain, she had to walk to A Black mother with her child. Data shows that Black mothers are six times more likely to die in pregnancy than white mothers. the triage unit, where she waited for hours. She didn’t fare much better when she went into labor There are many reasons for the grave racial disparity in say, ‘You’re fine. You’re OK.’ I always tell moms, ‘You know with her second child. When her water broke and she rushed to the hospital, clinicians told her she wasn’t far enough maternal mortality, including income, access to food and the your body better and you know what you’re feeling better than I do and your doctor does,’” Muhsen said. closure of hospitals in Black communities. along in labor to be admitted. Women often don’t know which aspects of their care they But also driving the disparity is a pattern of Black women “They sent me home,” Cain said. “My son was born at home in my bathroom because I went to the hospital and not being listened to when they say they are in pain, they have control over, Muhsen said. A doula can inform women need help, they need medication or they need to see a special- about all the different choices they can make, and can empowthey didn’t listen to me.” er them to have more control over their pregnancy and birthHaving her needs ignored by hospital staff “put my life ist, said Patricia Muhsen, a doula with Start Early. ing process. The doula can also make sure doctors listen, ad“A lot of times what I hear from my moms is that they’re and my son’s life in jeopardy,” Cain said. But despite being not being heard,” Muhsen said. “Mom is saying this, but the dress all of an expecting mom’s concerns and fully inform the turned away from critical medical care, the Garfield Park mother of two said she benefi tted from having a doula guide doctor wants to do that. … Their questions are not being ad- women about their options and the care they are receiving. “It boils down to advocating for yourself. Knowing your her through her second pregnancy and postpartum care, dressed, their concerns are not being addressed.” Beyonce and Serena Williams have detailed their own close information so when you are questioning your doctor or adsomething advocates say can help even the playing field in calls giving birth to their children in 2017 and 2018. In Wildressing your concerns, the doctor knows, you know this maternal health for women of color. liams’ case, she suffered from shortness of breath shortly af- information,” Muhsen said. “She gave me a lot of choices,” Cain said. “Whatever I ask ter delivering. She described having to repeatedly demand her Muhsen works with expecting moms to create a birth plan for, whatever I need, she’s on it. She’s never questions it, doctors perform a CT scan to confirm her suspicions she was that lays out all of a mother’s decisions ahead of time. That she’ll just be on it.” suffering from a pulmonary embolism, with which she had a way, the women don’t have to make stressful decisions in the Start Early, an early childhood education nonprofit, is history. Indeed, several blood clots had settled into her lungs. moment, and they can better communicate their needs to proamong the groups trying to support moms like Cain. The Systemic racism in medicine is well-documented. A 2016 viders. The plan can include who is allowed in the room during organization partners with health organizations to provide University of Virginia study suggested nearly half of medi- labor, whether medical students can observe the delivery and home visits and doula services for moms in under-resourced cal students held the false belief Black people don’t feel as what kinds of medications a patient wants during childbirth. neighborhoods in Chicago. much pain as whites. Physicians are also 22 percent less like“A lot of moms are getting really bad headaches and the Support from a doula — who is trained to advise and offer ly to give Black patients any pain medications, according to doctor will dismiss that,” Muhsen said. “A lot of times docemotional and physical support to mothers before and after a 2012 analysis by University of Pennsylvania researchers. tors don’t take the time to say ‘Hey, mom’s had an epidural, birth — can make a big difference in the unequal health out“You don’t have a choice,” McClarien said. “But I think this could be a side effect.’ We’re providing mom that educacomes women of color face, Start Early Vice President Diana that goes back to that racism, being the driving force for dis- tion for her to speak up because she’s not being heard.” McClarien said. parities in maternal mortality.” Having a doula during her second pregnancy gave Cain “While the doulas cannot eliminate individual or instiCain’s insurance did not allow her to choose her physician more control over decisions related to her care. Her doula tutional racism in the medical system, our doulas can help or the hospital her child would be born at. The lack of choice became an a trusted ally as she traversed the labyrinthine improve the maternal health experience for our moms and can make it difficult for women to access prenatal care, Muh- medical system, and helped educate her about proper diet, really address the health disparities that people of color sen said. Women who can’t choose their own providers are prenatal health and breastfeeding, Cain said. face,” McClarien said. “They’re teaching them to advocate more likely to miss appointments due to transportation and Cain’s doula was also a confidant she leaned on even when for themselves.” scheduling issues, and they won’t always have a doctor who her experience at the hospital ultimately went awry. Black mothers in Chicago are six times more likely to die they know will listen to them, she said. Pregnancy can be a lonely and isolating experience, Cain during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth than white Without help navigating the medical options available to said. But “when I couldn’t talk to anyone around me, I could women, according to a Chicago Department of Health report. them, it can be difficult for women of color to get the care always call her.” That same theme has been borne out across the country. A they need when they need it, Muhsen said. That makes it 2017 ProPublica investigation showed the United States has even more important for women’s voices to be heard, she Pascal Sabino is a Report for America corps member coverthe highest maternal death rate in the developed world. Be- said, and for moms to be aware of the choices that are avail- ing Austin, North Lawndale and Garfield Park for Block Club yond Black mothers dying at significantly higher rates, data able to them. Chicago. showed no socioeconomic factors protected Black women “They’ll go to a certain hospital and they are not attended from dying in childbirth or from pregnancy complications. to right away. … Or they will be sent home. The doctor will CONTACT: pascal@blockclubchi.org

Austin Weekly News, February 17, 2021

West Siders trapped due to recent snowstorms

Block clubs and churches need help clearing out snow for older people and those with disabilities By PASCAL SABINO Block Club Chicago

The constant barrage of snow and frigid temperatures has left older people on the

West Side stuck in their homes for days. Garfield Park resident Patricia Dugan has been trapped in her home due to the recent blizzards and cold snap. She has been unable to find anybody locally to clear away snow in

COLIN BOYLE/Block Club Chicago

BRAVING THE SNOW: Pablo Delfi shovels out his minivan after a heavy snowfall this weekend in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on February 1, 2021.

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basic errands and get food to then, she said. The city’s 311 service once ran a program that coordinated volunteers to shovel snow for volunteers, but the program was discontinued due to a lack of volunteers. Worthy has also been delivering groceries for seniors through a block club network organized by I AM ABLE, a trauma-informed social service agency in North Lawndale. The block club network identifies which community members need assistance and arranges for volunteers to shovel snow for residents. Snow “can be a problem for seniors: doctor’s appointments, going to buy food, or even if you’re getting food delivered, it can be a problem,” Worthy said. Pascal Sabino is a Report for America corps member covering Austin, North Lawndale and Garfield Park for Block Club Chicago.

CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

How to visit Garfield Park Conservatory this month

By PASCAL SABINO

an. 27th - 30th - 2nd Mt. Olive Baptist Church - 5729 W. Chicago Ave. (Austin)

front of her home. “I can’t get out because of the snow and ice,” she said. “It’s difficult to get out, especially when it’s like this. The thing about it is, I can’t afford, every time it snows and it builds up ice, to have the snow removers come because I’m on a fixed income.” Older people and people with disabilities are looking for volunteers to help them dig out of their homes. If you’re willing to help, email Tracie Worthy at tworthy@iamablecenter.org to assist older people in North Lawndale or email chekago@yahoo.com to shovel snow in East Garfield Park. Volunteers should provide their name, phone number and email address. No volunteer should be asking those who need help for money, the organizers pressed. One of the organizers has helped her neighborhood church deliver food to older people since the beginning of the pandemic. With the snow piling up, it’s been even harder for older folks to get out to take care of

The indoor gardens at the Garfield Park Conservatory will soon be open to guests after being closed due to the pandemic. Visitors to the conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., can reserve timed-entry slots to accommodate social distancing and a lower capacity. People who live near the conservatory will be given first pick of the 60-minute reservation slots. Postcards with sign-up information were sent to neighbors living within a half-mile of the conservatory. Registration was open for neighbors and conservatory members as of Wednesday morning. For the general public, registration opens 10 a.m. Friday. To register, click here. The reservation slots

will be available for the conservatory’s new hours: 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Thursday – Sunday. “We want to safely offer the physical and mental health benefits of nature in our global plant collection this winter,” said Jennifer Van Valkenburg, president of the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, in a statement. “Nature provides proven physical and mental health benefits, especially during periods of stress.” The conservatory will reopen exclusively for neighbors and members from Feb. 24 to Feb. 26. It will open to everyone else with reservations Feb. 27. The Conservatory’s spring flower show, Saturation, opens Feb. 27. The show uses flowers to immerse guests in the vivid colors of the rainbow. CONTACT: pascal@blockclubchi.org

We l c o m e t o O u r H o u s e | O a k Pa r k R e g i o n a l H o u s i n g C e n t e r

February 17, 2021

Special Advertising Section

Welcome to Our House

uring the civil rights movement, the Village of Oak Park initiated a concerted approach to improve racial integration and break the pattern of block-by-block segregation. In 1972, the Oak Park Housing Center opened its doors to address fair housing concerns and to promote affirmative racial integration of renters in Oak Park. Twenty years later, the housing center expanded its services to surrounding communities and changed its name to Oak Park Regional Housing Center (OPRHC). Still occurring today, OPRHC Rental Counselors meet with potential renters to find apartments through one-on-one counseling and guided/ virtual apartment visits. Participating building owners list their units for rent with us, receive education on fair housing requirements, and ways to enhance their units. All services of OPRHC are provided free to renters and owners. Within the area served, 41 percent of housing are rentals and one-third of renters move each year, thus OPRHC continues to sustain this successful integrated housing program. In Oak Park, OPRHC serves an average of 2,000 clients annually and work with 1,300 building owners/managers amassing 7,500 units. To improve upward mobility, the OPRHC develops and initiates programs to connect residents and promote dialogue

Meet our staff:

Going on 50 years, the OPRHC has transformed from a rental integration agency to all-encompassing, regional housing agency providing advocacy on the premise of creating integrated communities and building wealth for people of color.

Moving Forward Acknowledging the agency’s growth, the OPRHC worked with a consulting agency to develop a strategic plan. At the top of the list was strong recommendations to undergo rebranding initiatives and upgrading technology. The goal over the next three years is to better define our purpose and mission, to increase our outreach to serve a growing targeted population, and to efficiently serve our clients with technology that meets today’s standards.

Athena Williams, Oak Park Regional Housing Center, Executive Director

within neighborhoods. Neighbors Knowing Neighbors events are held throughout the year and attracts over 150 residents from the near west suburbs and our Chicago neighbors to the east of the Austin Community. Planned for Spring 2021 is a Neighbors Knowing Neighbors event and a spring forum focusing on healing racial transformation in an effort to furthering equity and inclusion. In 2006, the OPRHC opened the West Cook Homeowner

Athena Williams, Executive Director

Center (WCHC), a HUD-approved homeownership program providing home buyer and financial empowerment counseling and education. In 2020, at the West Cook Home-ownership Center, 403 clients received after received home-ownership and financial empowerment education. 53 households received assistance in foreclosure avoidance, and more than 50 families purchased homes.

Michael Stewart, Associate Director

Deborah Williams, Program Director, Housing

Michael has been with OPRHC for more than 25 years. He works directly with Property Owners. He also provides Human Resource and Operational oversight for the agency.

Athena Williams has been with the agency in multiple capacities since 2015.

Lisa Zeigler, Strategic Initiatives Director

Gretchen Worley, Residential Housing Coordinator

Lisa oversees grant management and special project implementations.

Gretchen has been with OPRHC for more than 20 years. She performs all duties from intake, to client advising, to client apartment marketing.

Deborah has been with the agency for 3 years. She manages programs associated with Homebuyer Education and Counseling, Financial Education, Foreclosure Prevention, Rental Counseling and Assistance

Natasha Escobedo, CPA Natasha is our agency’s full-time Accounting Manager. She oversees all of the OPRHC finances.

Jerry Ehernberger, Senior Residential Coordinator Jerry has been with OPRHC for more than 15 years. He specializes in data collection and client advising.

1041 South Boulevard, Oak Park, IL 60302 • 708-848-7150 5934 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL 60644 • 773-887-5187 • www.oprhc.org Hours vary by location and season, please call ahead before you plan your visit! The Oak Park Regional Housing Center is a 501c3 nonprofit, HUD approved agency. OPRHC is the home of: the Live in Oak Park Program, providing rental matching to affirmatively further fair housing; and the West Cook Homeownership Program, providing homebuyer education, all areas of housing counseling, and a financial education initiative to help people enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships The opinions and views presented in this section are not the opinions or views of any of our sponsors or funders.

Special Advertising Section

We l c o m e t o O u r H o u s e | O a k Pa r k R e g i o n a l H o u s i n g C e n t e r

February 17, 2021

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Senior Counselor, Financial Coach

Counselor, Rental and Housing

Reducing the Cost of Homeownership Kamau “Maui” Jones,

Community Engagement Specialist about the growth

Jacqueline Mota, Communications Coordinator

Huntington is passionate of our communities as well as doing the right thing. This is why we are limiting our lender closing costs to $5001 for borrowers purchasing or refinancing a home in a low- to moderate-income area2. Sharon

SEE REVERSE FOR ADDITIONALEckhoff INFORMATION , Intake Manager Sharon has been with OPRHC in multiple capacities over the past 12 years. Currently she oversees all reception area and intake processes.

Karen Barragen, Intake Coordinator Karen works alongside Sharon answering phones, following up with clients, etc.

We l c o m e t o O u r H o u s e | O a k Pa r k R e g i o n a l H o u s i n g C e n t e r

February 17, 2021

Special Advertising Section

How the OPRHC has Helped Client: Marcia The Oak Regional Housing Center is a life-saver for single moms. Shortly after my son was born, I found out the condo I was renting would be going on the market. A friend recommended OPRHC. A Guide provided me with listings to match exactly what I was looking for and I found my new place the same week. It saved me time apartment hunting with a newborn and allowed me to stay close to the downtown Oak Park area I love. I can’t wait to move in to our new place. A million thanks!

Client: Javairia When Javairia came to the Oak Park Regional Housing Center for the first time, she was in desperate need of help. She loved her current apartment, but her lease was set to expire in just over a month and she was not able to renew it. To make matters worse, the pandemic was only making it more difficult to find a new apartment. She was living in South Oak Park, knew she wanted to stay in the Village and was looking for quality assistance that wouldn’t cost her much. When she reached out to the Live in Oak Park program, she was relieved to learn that she was going to receive free assistance. She started touring studio apartments with Gretchen, the Housing Center’s Guide, who introduced Javairia to different neighborhoods of Oak Park and explained the benefits of each of them. Within the week, Javairia found a great new studio apartment in a neighborhood she found charming and felt safe in, and she was able to avoid the stress she expected from having to find a new home on short notice.

LENDER CLOSING COSTS Any Huntington mortgage product can qualify for this offer, but standard borrower qualifications, financing guidelines, and property type eligibility guidelines will apply.

Reducing the cost of homeownership is one way we are making a difference in our communities.

Ready to learn more? Let's talk.

Ahkeem Henderson Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS# 224387 5310 W Cermak Rd Cicero, IL 60804 o: (708) 466-2017 e: ahkeem.k.henderson@huntington.com www-auth.hban.us/mortgage/henderson-ahkeem 1

Applies to Huntington closing costs. Customer must still pay certain customary expenses at closing, such as charges by other parties, including but not limited to those for property taxes, transfer taxes, property insurance, flood insurance, mortgage insurance, owner’s title insurance, guarantee fees, bond fees, state revenue stamps, city revenue stamps, seller concessions or cash back to the borrower. Example loan payment calculation: $150,000 loan amount at a fixed rate of 4.99% (5.081% APR) with 0.00 rate buy-down points, 360-month term, 80% loan to value, and customer-paid closing costs of $500 results in $804.32 P&I monthly payment (payment amount does not include amounts for escrow of taxes or insurance so actual payment obligation will be greater). 2 The property must be located in one of Huntington’s assessment areas and designated as a low- or moderate-income census tract by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.

All loans are subject to application and credit approval, satisfactory appraisal, and title insurance. Terms, conditions, and loan programs are subject to change without notice. Other terms, conditions, and restrictions may apply. The Huntington National Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. a®, Huntington® and aHuntington.® are federally registered service marks of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. Welcome.℠ is a service mark of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. ©2021 Huntington Bancshares Incorporated. NMLS ID #402436 (01/20)

It is all about the intention

“T

hat is just how Oak Park is. Diversity is a way of being here. It’s who we are as a community.”

My friend said this after I expressed my admiration for the continued work of the Oak Park Regional Housing Center. I was taken aback by her comment, as I know this is not just how Oak Park is. Who we are as a community has always been reliant upon people who work tirelessly to create diversity as a way of being. Since the 1970s, the Oak Park Regional Housing center has been largely responsible for proactive strategies and programs that undo discriminatory practices and actively resist the ongoing cycle of segregation. A long-term supporter of the Housing Center, my friend identifies as a progressive. I share these details about her to highlight a common dilemma; Whether on film or in Not-For-Profit organizations, superheroes always struggle to gain recognition, even from the people who appreciate and benefit from the results of their superheroism. Until we understand that segregation is created and undone by continual, intentional policies and decisions, this invisibility problem will remain. Well before COVID-19 caused service delivery interruptions, we failed to honor the Housing Center staff, volunteers and stakeholders for the difference they make in our communities every single day. Their intentional, well-executed undoing is what makes Oak Park “who we are as a community”, and this undoing is far from finished. Diversity, inclusion and equity within our communities did not, does not, and will not ever happen “naturally”. This is why I think my friend’s declaration tells an incomplete story, a common mistake of privilege. We simply do not see the people who create and implement policies

Tracey Wik, OPRHC past Board President and current Board Member which enhance our quality of life daily because they are hiding in plain sight. The monumental struggle to maintain a new and improved status quo is rarely recognized or appreciated. Even stay-at-home orders did not thwart staff from their important mission. Led by the talented and indefatigable Executive Director Athena Williams, the organization was unstoppable. Seeing their work as more vital than ever, the staff enthusiastically executed strategic plans developed pre-Covid-19. These efforts paid off – more than 1000 new renters moved to Oak Park, sustaining integration through the Neighbors knowing Neighbors Program and “Affirmative Moves*”. In addition, Ms. Williams hired new talent to fill key positions, including grant manager, community engagement specialist and finance director. She worked tirelessly to procure resources which enabled each and every staff member to do their work remotely and safely. Like other superheroes whose true identities are unknown, Housing Center staff and volunteers quietly went about their day-to-day business, positively influencing people’s lives one decision at a time. These efforts deserve more than a shout out – these community members have earned far more than our gratitude. While recognition is important to continue staff engagement, what would have the greatest impact is to continue to do our part with financial contributions, participatory citizenship and more. What difference can you make to continue this important work? * Affirmative moves occur when a person moves to a building where their race is underrepresented. Tracey Wik, OPRHC past Board President and current Board Member

Special Advertising Section

We l c o m e t o O u r H o u s e | O a k Pa r k R e g i o n a l H o u s i n g C e n t e r

February 17, 2021

Oak Park Regional Housing Center...By the Numbers! The OPRHC and its two programs: Live in Oak Park and the West Cook Homeownership Center, have worked diligently throughout 2020 to meet our

community’s evolving housing needs. While 2020 presented many challenges, we met them head-on with determination and compassion to ensure the necessary

housing services and resources to all the communities we serve.

Austin Weekly News, February 17, 2021

THE HOUSING CLIFF In their own words from page 1 lord to fix anything. He’s been tempted to report the egregious building code violations to the city, especially in his bouts of frustration with the place. But he’s always chosen to cut the owners some slack—exchanging idle threats for empty promises. “He kept saying ‘work with me, work with me.’ And I’m young, so I’m working with him,” Wallace says about his landlord. “And nothing.” After his ceiling began caving in and a bad stumble down the building’s crumbling porch nearly put him out of work, Wallace decided enough was enough. It was time to move. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Wallace’s hours were cut at the Mercedes Benz dealership where he’s been working for years. Then his partner lost her job at Dunkin’ Donuts—both a direct result of the pandemic’s impact on Chicago’s economy where thousands of jobs have disappeared, at least 3,200 businesses have permanently shuttered and lower-income households like Wallace’s were hit the hardest. When the beginning of May rolled around, the young couple knew they wouldn’t be able to make their rent. “We was nervous,” Wallace remembers. “But then again, I’ve bypassed calling the city and reporting so much, I’m like maybe the landlord will work with us.” Two months later, on July 10, 2020, Wallace’s landlord filed to evict the young family. It wasn’t until he received a letter from City Bureau reporters in October that he learned of it. Wallace was among over 1,500 Chicagoans who were hit with a residential eviction filing after the shelter-in-place was implemented on March 21, 2020. Despite the statewide ban on evictions, landlords are still filing paperwork to oust renters who pose “a direct threat to the health and safety of other tenants” or “an immediate and severe risk to property.” Wallace and at least six other people we spoke with for this project say they believe they were hit with a filing because they owed rent, not because of health and safety concerns.

For months, housing advocates have warned of a looming eviction crisis where as many as 31% of Illinois residents could be evicted once local, state and federal protections expire. But while the moratorium has reduced eviction filings by 77%, it hasn’t stopped landlords from forcing tenants out through more aggressive means like illegal lockouts, harassment or threats of violence. For undocumented immigrants, who are often afraid to assert their housing rights for fear of getting deported or caught in the criminal justice system, the stakes are even higher. “People are already leaving,” says Moises Moreno, director of the Pilsen Alliance, which connects residents to emergency housing, food and other social services. “There’s already displacement happening. You don’t have to wait till the courts reopen.” Tenants who’ve lost their sources of income during the pandemic have few options when it comes to cash assistance. When the Chicago Department of Housing opened its first round of rental assistance last spring, 83,000 people applied for just two thousand grants. Whether grant programs were government-run or cobbled together by grassroots mutual aid groups, the demand has far outpaced the supply. Last fall, City Bureau reporters set out to speak with Chicagoans like Wallace— folks who are being sued in eviction court or otherwise forced out of their homes during an unprecedented global pandemic and economic crisis. Our goal was to learn and document what the so-called “eviction avalanche” looks like in material terms for everyday people in a city with an especially dark history of racist housing practices. For many working-class and lower-income Black and brown tenants like Wallace, this is not news: The pandemic has only exacerbated an ongoing housing crisis. In several of the stories that follow, we changed people’s names at their request. Some worried about retaliation from their landlords. Others feared the public shame that is often placed on poor and workingclass people who are down on their luck and just trying to survive. These names have been marked with an asterisk. We heard stories of struggle and loss. We learned how an eviction filing can be weap-

onized against tenants, often without their knowledge. How easily people fell through the cracks of an ineffective eviction ban and inadequate support systems. How one missed rent payment can devastate an entire family, tossing them into an underbelly of housing instability where survival means cramming into a small, overpriced hotel room with four other people at a time when we were told to keep our distance. And like many Chicago stories, we also heard examples of ingenuity and resourcefulness. We spoke with community groups and public officials who are actively working toward solutions—whether through legislation, tenant organizing, direct service or activism. We witnessed people refuse to give in to despair despite the incredible odds stacked against them. Most of the people we spoke with remained hopeful that better days would soon arrive—either through political will or their own genius. Here are seven of those stories, as told to City Bureau reporters. These interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.

Andre - West Garfield Park I grew up on the West Side of Chicago. Born and raised. I’ve never been affiliated with any gangs or anything like that. I’ve tried my best to stay clean. I’ve been working at the same job for about six years. My partner was working for Dunkin’ Donuts. She was there for like, two, three years. And I’ve been working for the car dealership. My life was fine. I mean, I was 22, 23 years old with two kids. It’s not the best thing to do at that age, but I was making a living for me and mine. I found this apartment through my auntie, who stays downstairs on the first floor. She’s been there for 15 years. I was looking for a place to stay and just raise me and my little family, you know? After I signed my lease and gave this man my money, I actually went all the way into my auntie’s apartment [for the first time]. She’s 78 years old and she had no ceiling in her bathroom or kitchen due to water damage. They still come and collect $800 from her every month knowing the condition of the apartment. I started running into problems when I kept paying the owner’s son all of my money, and this guy wasn’t coming to my house to fix anything. Every time I say I’m going to

call and report this to the city, she’ll promise me, saying “Oh, I’m going to do this for you and do that for you.” And then I fall into the trap. I’ll pay her rent and then I won’t see her again. So it comes to a point where I’m like, OK, I’m gonna take $100 from the rent, and I’m going to repair what I need inside the apartment. Some days I can’t put my kids in the tub because we don’t get no water out of the pipe. We get brown water some days. We get no water some days. I was planning on moving out at the beginning of [2020]. But then COVID hit and I literally got stuck here. Nobody’s showing apartments or things like that. Things got hard. My hours got cut. My girlfriend lost her job and then everything was just left on me. She can’t work now because somebody’s got to be home with the e-learning. Eventually, I fell behind on rent. It was like, OK I’m going to pay rent or I’m going to buy food and try to survive out here. It was hard. I’m the only one working, trying to pay the rent, the light bill, keep our phones on. By the time I heard about the housing grants, it was too late. The landlady called me and asked me if I could apply for it. Why would I apply to give you a $5,000 grant when you’re not doing what you’re supposed to do with the money that you’re getting now— money that you’re stealing from me and my auntie every month? It didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t know anything about the [eviction] filing before you sent me the letter. That was the first time I’ve received anything about that. We shouldn’t have to be penalized due to COVID-19—something that we didn’t have nothing to do with. I think they should give a rent forgiveness program. They should hold off on eviction notices for working families who are trying to make a living. But then you also have landlords who just use and abuse their tenants.

Ruth - North Lawndale The apartment is falling apart. When I first moved in, [the landlord] wouldn’t even change my carpet. There’s mildew. There’s plumbing issues. Electricity issues. With the plumbing issues, I have to wait 30 minutes to an hour to take a shower. One day the water is warm, one day it’s cold. All these issues Continued on next page

Austin Weekly News, February 17, 2021

THE HOUSING CLIFF Landlords out of sight

I’m willing to move because I don’t want to go through the eviction process. I just need help.

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

from page 11 and you’re harassing me about rent? Even before COVID-19, I never saw my landlord. Only time I see him or hear from him [is when] the guy downstairs needs something to be fixed or he’s coming to get mail. The only reason I took this apartment is because he made promises. He told me everything is going to be done. But he hasn’t done anything. I lost my job due to the COVID-19. My landlord couldn’t understand that, so he gave me a five-day [eviction] notice. I haven’t been back to work since. I told him I applied for the rental assistance and he had to do his part. I guess he didn’t want to do his part. He just wants me out of his apartment. I explained to him that I don’t have the funds to move out. Next thing you know, I’m getting a postcard in the mail saying he’s suing me. It got to the point that he turned my hot water off. I reached out to the city and he turned it back on. I’m trying to leave anyway. It’s too much going on with this apartment. It’s falling apart. I know it’s going to be hard to get an apartment with him putting this eviction on my record. I’m tired of living like this with my kids. I have a little baby that’s four years old. I want my kids to be comfortable.

How City Bureau reported this story City Bureau identified 445 tenants with a pending case in eviction court, using court records acquired through a records request to the Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court. We mailed each renter a letter informing them of the filing and asked if they’d share their story with us. We also surveyed people in line at the DMV and created a social media campaign where people could sign up to speak with a City Bureau reporter. In the end, our team spoke with 32 Chicago residents who were threatened with housing insecurity due to COVID-19. Most were facing negligent conditions at home— from the minor (occasional pests) to the more severe (black mold). The majority of people we spoke with identified as either Black or Latinx, 20 of them were women and all of them had experienced some sort of financial or personal hardship that was directly related to the pandemic.

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Austin Weekly News, February 17, 2021

4 solutions that could help stem the housing crisis

Renters are still struggling almost a year after the pandemic began, but there are actions residents and lawmakers can take to minimize the pain. By JUSTIN AGRELO City Bureau

The Housing Cliff is a special series about the COVID-19 housing crisis produced by City Bureau, a civic journalism lab based in Chicago. Access the full series online at citybureau.org. Long before COVID-19, eviction has been a problem in Chicago. Over the past decade, 1 in 27 renter households in Chicago has faced eviction each year, according to data from the Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing, an organization that offers free legal services to Chicago residents facing eviction. Before the pandemic, the city saw more than 22,000 eviction cases a year, disproportionately impacting Black and brown communities. The pandemic has only worsened this crisis, forcing Chicago to the brink of a housing disaster. According to research from Loyola University and LCBH, Chicago could see as many as 21,000 eviction filings in a single month once the eviction moratoriums are lifted. Despite the moratoriums, 5,472 evictions were filed in Chicago last year. These figures don’t account for the likely hundreds of people and families who have been forced from their homes in the shadows of the law. Meanwhile, renters have relied mostly on limited federal funding and an eviction ban that has only weakened over time and that could incite a surge of eviction cases as soon as it expires. But it’s not too late to act. Here are four solutions offered by housing experts and advocates to keep people in their homes and prevent a housing crisis.

Rent freeze For years, housing activists have fought to repeal Illinois’s rent control ban, a law that prohibits the government from putting any restrictions on the way property owners set rent. When the pandemic began, the Lift the Ban coalition shifted tactics; they called on Governor J.B. Pritzker to use his emergency powers to lift the rent control ban and freeze rent for struggling tenants—a move that could help keep the roughly one million Illinois residents who are currently vulnerable to eviction in their homes. Though Pritzker campaigned on lifting the ban and supported a legislative repeal, he dismissed the activists’ demands, claiming that his executive powers did not extend that far. But in a legal memo published in April 2020 in response to questions from Lift the

Ban coalition members, lawyers at the firm Despres, Schwartz and Geoghegan, Ltd., argue that there are “a variety of ways’’ the governor can provide rent relief that do not require the state legislature. According to the lawyers, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act allows Pritzker to either suspend rent himself or empower municipalities to do so on their own. “The powers the governor has in an emergency like this are pretty broad,” says Will Bloom, a lawyer with the firm. “A solution could be crafted that gives tenants the protection they need without putting the burden on small homeowners who also need help.” Emboldened by the legal analysis, the Lift the Ban coalition has regularly protested outside of Pritzker’s Gold Coast mansion, demanding he cancel rent. Last summer, the coalition set up their “Pritzkerville” encampment, which depicts the scene of an eviction, outside of eviction court. “Everything has gotten 10 times worse in this last year,” says Brian Bennett, a community organizer with the coalition. “If you owe back rent because you lost your job due to COVID, the city can’t pass any laws that address that. They can dole a little federal funding, but we’re talking about billions of dollars.” But political will for canceling rent is low. “Landlord associations are big donors,” Bloom says. “The Democratic party takes a lot of money from landlords. They don’t want to do something that’s going to anger the people whose donations they rely on.” To change that political landscape, Bennett encourages Chicago residents to get more involved at a local level. “We have representatives right here in Chicago representing these heavily renter, heavily evicted districts who are killing this legislation [to lift the ban],” Bennett says. “Sending emails or calling is not going to get the job done. People need to be joining coalitions together in order to show that there is a wide and deep constituency of renters.”

More money for struggling residents Without a rent freeze, getting money into people’s hands is critical to keeping them housed once the eviction bans expire. Even before the pandemic, missed rent was a major precursor to eviction, with 82% of eviction cases in Chicago filed over non-payment of rent, often for less than $2,500, according to data from LCBH. Since the start of the pandemic, city and state governments have relied on emergency rent and mortgage assistance programs to keep people in stable housing. Last year, the Chicago Department of Housing distributed more than $22 million in rental and mort-

gage aid, according to Daniel Hertz, the department’s policy director. Still, the DOH was only able to serve 10,421 households despite getting 96,300 requests in two rounds of applications (Hertz notes that some households may have applied in both rounds). Illinois is preparing for another round of emergency aid after Congress allocated over $834 million to the state for rental assistance, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury. It’s not clear how much of that will come to Chicago, but Hertz expects it to be “significantly” more than what the city received last year. Whatever the number, Hertz says that last year’s rush to get money to hard-hit residents has made the city more prepared this time around.

Mortgage forbearance for landlords Millions of U.S. landlords are eligible for COVID-19 mortgage forbearance programs, which allow them to suspend or reduce mortgage payments temporarily, either through the federal government or private lenders. Tenants struggling to pay rent could suggest the programs to their landlords; mortgage forbearance could lessen the burden on landlords to collect rent, and some programs include specific protections for renters. Deadlines for these programs are coming up in February and March, so property owners should contact their mortgage servicer soon—they can find out who services their mortgage at http://bit.ly/cbmortgage or http://bit.ly/cbmortgage2. Landlords with government-backed loans (FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac) can defer their mortgage payments for up to a year if they’ve experienced hardship as a result of COVID-19. These programs forbid landlords of buildings with five or more units from charging late fees or evicting tenants who can’t pay rent during the forbearance period. Landlords with FHA, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loans must also provide tenants with flexible repayment plans and inform tenants of the new protections. The programs aim to keep tenants in their homes while preventing property owners from going into foreclosure. Entering into forbearance will not hurt the property owner’s credit nor will they be charged late fees or interest on the loan during the forbearance period. Program eligibility, tenant protections and deadlines depend on each lender and are subject to change, so consumer protection lawyer Kathleen Robson, who has worked

with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, suggests the best course of action is for “people to call their lenders and request the forbearance.”

Minimizing the harm of eviction filings In January’s lame duck session of the Illinois General Assembly, a COVID-19 housing bill stalled that would have (among other types of relief) limited public accessibility of certain eviction records, including any evictions filed during the pandemic, in addition to extending the statewide eviction ban and closing some loopholes in the existing ban. State Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Chicago) sponsored Illinois Senate Bill 3066, known as the COVID-19 Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program Act, and vows to introduce it again in February when legislators reconvene. “People shouldn’t have an eviction record that harms them for the next 10 years because they couldn’t pay rent during COVID,” Ramirez says. “I’m really worried that while we fight for [a rent freeze], people are going to have a record that will make it difficult for any landlord to want to rent to them.” Landlords file evictions at much higher rates in Black communities than in other parts of the city. Black women are especially vulnerable. In some cases, an eviction filing can stay in a renter’s credit history even after the case is dismissed or ruled in the renter’s favor. According to data from LCBH and Housing Action Illinois, a policy group working to expand the state’s supply of affordable housing, more than 15,000 people each year end up with a public eviction record despite having no eviction order or other judgment against them. Ramirez’s bill received bipartisan support in the House, but failed to make it to the Senate floor for a vote. She encourages Chicago residents who want to support the bill to call their state senator and representative and demand they back it. “This bill is a health protection, it’s removing barriers to housing, it’s a criminal justice bill,” Ramirez says. “We desperately need to make sure that it passes. This could potentially mean over a million people will be impacted if it doesn’t.” This report was produced by City Bureau, a civic journalism lab based in Chicago. Learn more and get involved at citybureau.org.

CONTACT: sarah@citybureau.org

Austin Weekly News, February 17, 2021

deadline: 9:30 am Monday office hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday – Friday

CLASSIFIEDS TO PLACE AN AD HELP WANTED DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF OF EMS & INFECTIOUS DISEASE The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Deputy Fire Chief of EMS & Infectious Disease in the Fire Department. This position will direct, manage, supervise, and coordinate the programs and activities of the Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services and Infectious Disease Division; to coordinate assigned activities with other Village departments, divisions, and outside agencies; and to provide highly responsible and complex administrative support to the Fire Chief and Public Health Director when assigned. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/jobs. First review of applications will be February 21, 2021. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST HEPHZIBAH CHILDREN’S ASSOCIATION PART TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE Hephzibah Children’s Association is a renowned social service agency in Oak Park, IL that has been helping children thrive and families flourish through innovative community-based programs. The Day Care Program is accepting applications for February – June, 2021 school year. We seek individuals to provide care and supervision of 5-11-year-old children. Positions are Monday through Friday from 12:15 – 6:00 pm. Responsibilities include assisting with and monitoring e-learning, supervising arts and crafts, activities, sports, group games, and indoor and outdoor play, lunch and snack, and homework help. The program begins in February and will be in Oak Park, IL serving 5-11-year-old (K-5th grade) children. The program will follow the safety guidelines of the IDPH regarding face masks, social distancing and cleaning & disinfecting. Requirements include: • Minimum of 6 semester hours in education, recreation, social work, or related college courses • Experience working with children If you are interested please contact: Amy O’Rourke, Director of Day Care by email at: aorrouke@hephzibahhome.org include letter of interest and resume. Hephzibah Children’s Association is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply. We value, advocate for and support diversity throughout our organization. We embrace a respectful, multicultural, environment for employees and the clients we serve.

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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR LVS TITLE TRUST VI Plaintiff, vs. MIBA, LLC, FARAH ANVERALLY MOORE, MICHAEL RASHARD MOORE, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants, 19 CH 8420 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, March 8, 2021 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-14-112-034. Commonly known as 3908 WEST CONGRESS PARKWAY, CHICAGO, IL 60624. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g) (1) and (g)(4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Mr. Ira T. Nevel at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 357-1125. 19-01400 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3163322

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.MORRIS CANNON, JR., DEBBIE CANNON, CITIZENS BANK, N.A., CITY OF CHICAGO, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 17 CH 001375 1553 S. MILLARD AVENUE CHICAGO, IL 60623 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on August 3, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 23, 2021, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1553 S. MILLARD AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60623 Property Index No. 16-23-129-0180000 The real estate is improved with a residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-14-18648 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 17 CH 001375 TJSC#: 41-160 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 17 CH 001375 I3164278

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Austin Weekly News, February 17, 2021

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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF CVI CGS MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST I Plaintiff, -v.KRZYSTOF KARBOWSKI, INTERNATIONAL GRANITE & MARBLE CORP., HUBBARD POINT CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2019 CH 02954 1360 W. HUBBARD ST., UNIT# 3W CHICAGO, IL 60622 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on August 20, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 18, 2021, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1360 W. HUBBARD ST., UNIT# 3W, CHICAGO, IL 60622 Property Index No. 17-08-132-0621006 and 17-08-132-062-1010 The real estate is improved with a condominium. The judgment amount was $549,692.44. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a

Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 230 W. Monroe Street, Suite #1125, Chicago, IL, 60606 (312) 541-9710. Please refer to file number 19-7001. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC 230 W. Monroe Street, Suite #1125 Chicago IL, 60606 312-541-9710 E-Mail: ilpleadings@johnsonblumberg.com Attorney File No. 19-7001 Attorney Code. 40342 Case Number: 2019 CH 02954 TJSC#: 41-182 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2019 CH 02954 I3164310

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