Guidance on COVID-19
Community Renewal Society is monitoring the developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are taking steps to protect the well-being of our staff and members while continuing our important work in The Beloved Community. CRS is following the guidance prepared by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We will continue to update this page as resources are made available.
Online Resources
Chicago
The Doc Is In: Ask Dr. Arwady Live Q&A - Chicago health commissioner answers questions bout ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19). #AskDrArwady
Firsthand: A WTTW digital series focusing on the effects of COVID-19 on Chicago’s black community
Cook County
Illinois
Illinois Director of Public Health Ngozi Ezike, MD
Governor Pritzker Announces Restore Illinois: A Public Health Approach To Safely Reopen Our State
Call4Calm - Illinois Department of Human Services’ Mental Health Division launched a free-of-charge emotional support text line for Illinois residents experiencing stress and struggling with mental health related to COVID-19. People who would like to speak with a mental health professional can text “TALK” to 5-5-2-0-2-0, or for Spanish, “HABLAR” to the same number: 5-5-2-0-2-0. Call4Calm is free to use, and individuals will remain anonymous. Once a resident sends a text to the hotline, will receive a call from a counselor employed by a local community mental health center to provide support within 24 hours. Individuals can also text 552020, with keywords such as “unemployment,” “food” or “shelter” and will receive information on how to navigate and access support and services.
The Center for Faith and Community Health Transformation COVID-19 Resources
A joint initiative of Advocate Aurora Health and the Office for Community Engagement and Neighborhood Health Partnerships at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Tracking coronavirus cases in Illinois, daily by The Chicago Reporter
The Framework for Reopening Illinois Places of Worship - Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago
United States
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to Help Pay Funeral Costs for COVID-19-related Deaths
In early April, FEMA will begin providing financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020, for deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19) to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic. The policy was finalized today, and FEMA is now moving rapidly to implement this funeral assistance program nationwide.
To be eligible for COVID-19 funeral assistance, click here to see what the policy states.
More information regarding this assistance can be found at COVID-19 Funeral Assistance | FEMA.gov.
Global
For Children, Parents and Educators
Chicago Connected is providing stable high-speed internet access to students who need it the most
Chicago Teacher’s Union Resources to Aid Families During the COVID-19 Shutdown
For technical support, call Chicago Public School Parent Tech Support Hotline at (773)-417-1060 Monday thru Friday from 7:30am to 4:30pm
Parent Tech Support Portal - Find tech support help files and submit service requests for your child’s CPS-issued device
Family Checklists for Going Back to School by the CDC
A simple breakdown of the CPS reopening plan, by the Chicago Reporter
Chicago Teacher’s Union report: Same Storm, Different Boats: The Safe and Equitable Conditions For Reopening CPS in 2020-21
ASK DR. ARWADY: Dr. Arwady from the Chicago Department of Public Health answers questions with Dr. Janice Jackson, CEO of Chicago Public Schools (Facebook Live).
Internet Resources for Low-Income Families in Chicago - This resource provides detailed information on your local organizations that provide discounted distance learning devices, remote learning programs, and free wireless internet access in Chicago, Illinois.
For Decarceration
See the Take Action section below.
Cook County officials ponder inmate release to ease Coronavirus concerns at jail; advocates demand state consider taking action, 3/16/2020 by Annie Sweeny, Chicago Tribune
For Small Businesses
The Small Business Administration (SBA) will receive over $300 billion in additional funding for its Paycheck Protection Program to help businesses retain employees despite pandemic-related revenue losses. After being temporarily shut down due to lack of funds, the program is again accepting applications.
SBA loans and grants. Farms with fewer than 500 employees are now eligible to apply.
For Tenants & Landlords
City of Chicago Family and Support Services Rental Assistance Program
Residential landlords have a new opportunity to obtain federal rental assistance payments for certain tenants struggling to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This assistance may provide landlords and tenants with much-needed relief. Read Quarles & Brady's breakdown of the issue and how it might apply to you.
Chicago Magazine:
The Rent Is Due. What Now?
Your Stimulus Check Will Cover May Rent, and That’s About It
COVID-19: What’s Legal for Renters and Landlords?Nolo, COVID-19: The Law and Your Legal Rights During the Coronavirus Outbreak
The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is opening applications for the Emergency Housing Assistance Programs, which will provide rent and mortgage assistance due to loss of income from COVID-19.
Cook County’s COVID-19 Recovery: Rental Assistance Program helps suburban Cook County residents who are having difficulty paying their rent as a result of the pandemic. It pays up to three months of overdue or future rent.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible low-income households pay for home energy services, including heating, gas, propane and electricity.
Faith Resources
Support for The Beloved Community from our Faith Leaders
The following have provided COVID-19 guidance for their communities.
Interfaith
By Denomination
News
Read The Chicago Reporter’s COVID-19 coverage.
Harvard Health Blog: As Coronavirus spreads, many questions and some answers
Black Doctor Dies of COVID-19 After Complaining of Racist Treatment
Global News
Take Action
How to Help During this Pandemic
Housing needed for people to leave Illinois Department of Corrections. Thank you all for the powerful work to fight for the lives of people in IDOC!!! Do you know of any redemption landlords in Illinois? We seek rental housing to help place people out of prison ASAP. As you may know, there are 1,200 people in Illinois prisons past their release dates. Many of us—including the IDOC—are trying to help get them out. They don’t need a sentence reduction or medical furlough to be freed—just a place to rent. The problem is that residency restrictions block people from nearly all residential real estate in Chicago or any other city or town. Some families have collected enough money for rent for their loved ones to get out—but they need options. If you know of any redemption landlord, we can vet the address to see if it could work. Please reach out to Laurie Jo, info@chicago400.net, with any housing leads.
Chicago 400 Alliance supports the Chicago 400 and their counterparts in prison—all are made homeless because of residency restrictions. If we can’t help them right now, when can we?
Follow @Chicago400 to show your support.
In Illinois, incarcerated individuals are facing the COVID-19 crisis without sanitation supplies, adequate communication with loved ones, or basic protections against the virus. Now is the time to mobilize around the biggest public health crisis of our time. Sponsored the Free Them All 4 Public Health #freetheSoap #freethePhones #freethePeople
Join the public Facebook group, Let Our People Go: Week of Action, let us come together to demand that Illinois #LetOurPeopleGo.
Tell Governor Pritzker: Pardon Raul Doradod NOW!
Tell Governor Pritzker: Pardon Gerald Reed NOW! Now is the time for Governor J. B. Pritzker to stand up and sign the papers freeing Gerald Reed from the torture he continues to endure in prison. Sign the petition, demand that Pritzker does the right thing and bring Gerald home. Sponsored by Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.
Sign a Letter to Governor Pritzker on Coronavirus in Illinois Prisons, written by the Illinois Coalition for Higher Education in Prison (IL-CHEP). Advocate for the release of high-risk individuals from the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Call-in to Protect Public Health through Decarceration of the Cook County Jail.
Housing is one of the biggest needs in order to release people from the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). If you are willing to house a returning citizen, take this survey.
Expand Lifeline Government Phone Program Accessibility During COVID-19 Crisis
Volunteer Match COVID-19 Resource Hub focusing on volunteering and public service
Illinois Helps - Illinois is looking for medically trained individuals to join the fight.
Color. Culture. Class. COVID-19.
A dialogue on the impact of COVID-19 on underserved communities presented by Community Renewal Society.
May 7, 14 and 21, 2020.
You may view the town halls in full below.
Thank you for your participation in our town hall series that addressed the disproportionate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic among under-served communities moderated by Rev. Dr. Waltrina N. Middleton, Executive Director, Community Renewal Society.
May 7 - There is a Balm in Gilead — a dialog on race, racism, class and poverty as it relates to health.
View a dialog on race, racism, class and poverty as it relates to health.
Speakers: Dr. Ulysses W. Burley III, Founder, UBtheCURE, LLC and Jewel C. Love, CEO of SoulStirring, LLC. Bios >
May 14 - Jesus and the Disinherited — a dialog on socio-economic issues as it relates to wealth.
Speakers: Tomi Odunsi, Strategy and Operations Lead, Google NYC; Rev. Erica N. Williams, lead organizer, The Poor People's Campaign and founder of Set It Off Outreach Ministries; Rev. Dr. Marilyn Pagán-Banks, Executive Director, A Just Harvest, Senior Pastor at San Lucas UCC and Adjunct Professor at McCormick Theological Seminary. Bios >
View a dialog on race, racism, class and poverty as it relates to the global diaspora.
May 21 - Global Diaspora: Ubuntu- I Am Because We Are — a dialog on race, racism, class and poverty as it relates to the global diaspora.
Speakers: Jacqueline Keeler, Editor-in-Chief, Pollen Nation Magazine; Omar Haramy, Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, Palestine; Ras André Guimãraes, Pastor of Methodist Church Philadelphia of Brazil; Faith Tanui Chelangat, Hekima University College, Nairobi, Kenya; Craig Mousin, University Ombudsperson and Adjunct Faculty, DePaul University College of Law (Refugee and Immigration Law), Chicago, IL. Translation provided by Richard de Meij. Bios >
For more information, see www.chicago.gov/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. If you or anyone you know has any additional questions, call Chicago Department of Public Health’s general inquiry line at 312-746-4835 or email coronavirus@chicago.gov.