COVID-19 Community Updates
During this COVID-19 public health and economic crisis, the Oak Park Homelessness Coalition is working closely with government, community and social service leaders and institutions.
As you know, the Coalition is working to end homelessness by making it rare, brief and one time. We work with those experiencing homelessness--and those who may be in danger of becoming homeless.
Since the outbreak ramped up, the Coalition has focused on three areas:
-Coordination of resources and communication. This impacts every segment of our community, and we are working to communicate and coordinate with the Village, Township, Library, schools, businesses, congregations and residents. With schools, libraries, park districts and businesses closed, this is a challenge. Thank you to Housing Forward for leadership and providing shelter, housing and more.
OPHC put out a call for emergency volunteers over the weekend and 50 people stepped up to provide, if needed, meal delivery, transportation and more.
Supplies are needed at Housing Forward, including medical gloves, toilet paper, paper towels and bleach. See the full list here.
-Night and day shelters. The evening shelter system through Housing Forward continues to operate with CDC guidelines being followed. As of tonight (March 16 through March 30), Housing Forward will centralize shelter services at Oak Park Temple, 1235 N. Harlem in Oak Park. This site will operate 24/7.
In addition, with seventeen people at the Housing Forward shelter experiencing homelessness over 60 with an underlying medical condition, we are working to place these people in temporary housing.
Housing Forward has set up a fund to cover additional, unexpected costs related to COVID-19. Go to Housing Forward Emergency Response Fund to donate.
-Rent assistance and landlord communication. The Village, on behalf of the Coalition, sent a letter to Oak Park landlords urging them to be compassionate and to work with people experiencing hardship. On Saturday, we learned that Cook County will suspend evictions for 30 days.
Since it appears this will continue for more than 30 days, an economic response from the State and Federal government is needed. In Oak Park, we have a Flexible Rental Assistance Program (FRAP) available to those who require financial support to maintain or secure stable housing. While funding is limited, this program, which is conducted through Housing Forward, provides individuals and families who are at risk or experiencing homelessness with emergency financial assistance that is aimed towards preventing homelessness or aiding those that are in between stable housing.
Contact Suburban Cook Call Center at 877.426.6515 to be pre-screened over the phone to determine initial eligibility for services. Walk-in’s welcome at Entry Point Walk-In Center, 6634 W. Roosevelt Rd., 2nd Floor, Oak Park.
Keep watching the web sites of the Coalition, Housing Forward, Village of Oak Park and the CDC for more information and updates. Please email or call John Harris at 708.227.5313 or jharris@a5inc.com if you would like to discuss.
Thank you!
The Core Team
John Harris
Lisa Devivo
Tammie Grossman
Jim Madigan
Vanessa Matheny
Carolyn Newberry-Schwartz
Jeff Prior