Dear neighbor,

To address the need for more testing and vaccines in our schools, I want to remind residents that Illinois, in partnership with Abbott Health and SHIELD Illinois, is providing 350,000 rapid antigen tests to the Chicago Public Schools. The best way to protect yourself is to wear your mask and get the vaccine. If you are looking to get your student vaccinated, you can find a vaccination site here. 

Sen Simmons’ Covid-19 Resources

KN95 Masks available:

  •   40th Ward Office, only by request: 2 per person:

      1. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PICK UP A MASK AT THE WARD OFFICE: Choose a time slot to pick up your mask from the office.

     2. IF YOU ARE A SENIOR OR DISABLED AND WOULD PREFER A MASK BE DELIVERED TO YOU:  DO NOT choose a time slot-- indicate this need below in the 'Further info' field and we will be in touch with you separately to coordinate a drop-off:

     3. IF YOU NEED TO VERIFY 40th WARD RESIDENCY: click on the link as we will be checking proof of residency upon distributing.

  • 48th Ward Office (5533 N. Broadway), M-F while supplies last, 1 per person

COVID-19 Testing Locations HERE.

Vaccine sites in the 7th District:
Please visit the website linked to each location for more information and call ahead of time to check vaccine availability and to set up appointment times for any vaccines HERE.

Get Free COVID-19 tests at-home:
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. You can order your tests HERE.

Second Pediatric Vaccine Clinic and Boosters Today!

Today at the Broadway Armory at 3 p.m., my office, State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, and Alderman Harry Osterman are hosting our second pediatric COVID-19 vaccine event in partnership with Genoa HealthCare and Heartland Health Centers. This event is the follow-up from our Jan. 7. clinic. You can make an appointment HERE. If slots are full, call my office to make an appointment.

Sen. Simmons’ Community Events

Thank you to the Vietnamese American Association of Chicago for inviting me to join you all as you celebrate your 45th year in facilitating service to thousands of Vietnamese Americans and other ethnic communities. As a proud son of a first-generation immigrant from Ethiopia, I am happy to support building community by assisting in removing barriers to access much-needed resources. Happy Lunar New Year to all!

Senators of Tomorrow!

 My office is excited to announce Senators of Tomorrow! We are inviting young people ages 9 - 18 to our office to learn about what the local government can do for them and for the community. Youth have the opportunity to learn how local government works and to advise on public policy issues including transportation, public safety, and more. You can Sign-up HERE!

Restoring Voting Rights for Incarcerated Citizens

Incarcerated citizens are not able to vote, but they are counted as a part of the population for the legislative district of their documented residential addresses. Restoring the right to vote for this population can help spur them on a path to becoming civically active and better prepared to successfully re-enter their communities. Stripping those who are incarcerated of the right to vote denies a fundamental democratic right and compounds the ill effects of mass incarceration. We have the opportunity to catalyze criminal justice reform. Please consider attending the upcoming community town hall below.

On Monday, Jan. 31 at 6:00 p.m., join my office and Rep. Lashawn Ford for a community town hall on Senate Bill 828: Voting in Prison. Register HERE.

Sen. Simmons in the news:

Sen. Simmons’ Resources for Constituents:

Rental Assistance Program
The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services has extended the application deadline for its Rental Assistance Program and will continue to accept applications through Jan. 31. The program provides support to Chicagoans who are at risk of becoming homeless through eviction or who may become homeless soon due to loss of income or other eligible emergencies that may prevent them from paying rent. You are eligible for the program if:

  • You live in the city of Chicago.
  • You are at risk of becoming homeless due to eviction, loss of income or another emergency.
  • You economically classify as a low-income household.
  • Your landlord completes the program requirements.

Those interested can apply for the program online or call 311 to reach the homeless prevention center.

Resources on Racial Equity

The pursuit of racial healing and racial equity calls for more than one conversation. To help you plan your first, second or even your 10th conversation, the Illinois Department of Human Services has curated this list of resources to help shape healthy dialogue across Illinois. Visit these resources in any particular order HERE.

Mental Health First Responder Program

Rogers Park-based Trilogy rolled out its mental health emergency responder program this month. The First-response Alternative Crisis Team, or FACT, is part of a statewide program providing alternatives to calling 911 for those experiencing mental health issues.Trilogy’s team has set up its own crisis hotline people can call and request first responders trained in mental health services. The program responds to calls in Rogers Park, Edgewater, Uptown and West Ridge, as well as Evanston and Skokie.

The first responder service is available 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. It will be scaled up to 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. daily, and then to 24/7 by the summer as Trilogy works to hire more mental health specialists.

The crisis response program can be reached at 800-FACT-400 (800-322-8400).

Asian Americans Advancing Justice is offering virtual training to learn about how you can combat hate and harassment. To learn more and see additional dates, please visit:www.advancingjustice-chicago.org/antihate

The Emergency Heating Repair Program provides qualified homeowners with a one-time grant to repair or replace their furnaces or boiler heating systems. The grants are available to owner-occupants of one-to-four unit residential buildings. Learn more about the program and eligibility on the DOH website link.

Charitable Trust has a system of grants that are available to help small nonprofits across Illinois. More information can be found in the links below.

If you would like to stay up-to-date with daily updates, follow Senator Simmons!

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 773-769-1717 if we can help you with anything.

Sincerely,

Mike Simmons

State Senator | 7th District