The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides this information on what people with disabilities and their care providers need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine.

 

The Menard County Housing Authority will begin accepting pre-applications for the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Tenant-Based Vouchers).

The letter waitlist will open Feb. 15 and close at 3 p.m. on March 1, 2021.

The areas covered include the following counties: Alexander; Bond; Casey, IL; Clinton; Coles; Crawford; Douglas; Fayette; Jackson; Jasper; Livingston; Macoupin; Massac; Menard; Monroe; Moultrie; Perry, Pulaski; Randolph; Scott and Wabash.

For more information and to apply, visit www.menardcha.org/. Contact (217) 632-7723, option 3, for additional assistance to apply.

UIC’s Division of Specialized Care for Children put together this helpful fact sheet to help you know what to expect before and after you receive your COVID-19 vaccine.

All Illinoisans age 5 and up are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. UIC’s Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) put together this frequently-asked-questions handout to help our participant families make informed decisions about receiving the vaccine.

The National Organization for Rare Disorders’ (NORD) Respite Program is for caregivers (parent, spouse, family member or significant other) of a child or adult diagnosed with a rare disorder.

The Respite Program provides financial assistance to enable the caregiver a break to attend a conference, event or simply have an afternoon or evening away from caregiving. Financial assistance will be granted up to $500 annually for those who qualify. Awards may be spread throughout the year or in a single-use.

For more information about this program, contact NORD at (203) 616-4328 or email CaregiverRespite@rarediseases.org.

Equip for Equality provides this guide to help understand the purpose of an individualized education program (IEP), how to read one, rules to know, special education rights, Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requirements and more.

Entry Point’s purpose is to ensure all people experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness have fair and equal access to housing in suburban Cook County.

Individuals and families experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness can access Entry Point throughout the region. Trained Entry Point staff at access locations work with households to understand their strengths and needs using a standardized assessment. Entry Point uses HUD homeless assistance eligibility guidelines and uniform prioritization policies to refer people to the right programs based on their preferences and levels of need.

Entry Point also helps suburban Cook County make the best matches between homeless assistance resources and the people who need them most.

If you need financial assistance with mortgage, rent payments, rent deposits, utility payments or other housing issues, please call the Homeless Prevention Call Center at 1-877-4-Cook-15 (1-877-426-6515).

Listen carefully to the prompts to choose which kind of help you need.

Housing Forward’s mission is to transition people from housing crisis to housing stability. It offers a full range of programs and services that include emergency assistance, prevention and stabilization services; employment readiness; supportive housing; and homelessness prevention.

Housing Forward serves the following 21 communities in west Cook County: Bellwood, Berkeley, Berwyn, Broadview, Chicago (Austin), Cicero, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, Forest View, Franklin Park, Hillside, Maywood, Melrose Park, Northlake, Oak Park, River Forest, River Grove, Schiller Park, Stickney, Stone Park and Westchester.

In addition, Housing Foward serves clients who choose to live in Brookfield, Lyons, North Riverside, Riverside and LaGrange through its supportive housing programs.

The Rockford Housing Authority provides this list of resources and the latest information about COVID-19 and what is happening locally.