Chicago, IL

LIHEAP application: IL residents urged to apply now for assistance to prevent utility shutoffs

Published

2 years ago

March 31, 2022

CHICAGO (WLS) — In case you are having hassle paying your utility payments, there’s assist accessible for Illinois residents.

Gov. JB Pritzker and state officers are encouraging low-income households to use for help to pay their pure gasoline, propane and electrical companies by the Low-Earnings Residence Vitality Help Program (LIHEAP).

Households in peril of getting their utilities shut off ought to go to www.helpillinoisfamilies.com to use, or name the hotline for real-time help in over 30 languages at 1-833-711-0374. residents are inspired to use by Could 31, 2022.

Greater than $150 million in advantages is accessible for individuals who qualify. The state mentioned greater than 230,000 Illinois households have acquired utility help for the reason that LIHEAP was launched in 2021.

Further data on Illinois’ Low-Earnings Residence Vitality Help Program

The State of Illinois affords varied applications to assist eligible low-income households with utility help. These applications are open to ALL eligible low-income Illinois households who meet the factors, together with undocumented households. Whereas the quantity of assist varies based mostly on the wants of particular person households, this yr’s LIHEAP recipients have acquired a median of $930 per family. By way of LIHEAP, assist for eligible households consists of:

-One-time Direct Vendor Cost: All LIHEAP recipients usually obtain a one-time fee to assist with utilities payments.

-Disaster/ Reconnection Help: Funding is accessible for households in heating-related emergency conditions.

-Furnace Help: Based mostly on funding availability, Furnace Help could also be supplied to households that do not need an working furnace for his or her residence.

-UDAP: UDAP offers assist for present yr LIHEAP and Proportion of Earnings Cost Plan ( PIPP) prospects both on a utility’s disconnection checklist or in imminent risk of disconnection on account of an arrearage of $250 or extra. Households who obtain LIHEAP advantages routinely qualify for this program and don’t want to use individually.

-Residence Weatherization Program: The Illinois Residence Weatherization Help Program ( IHWAP) helps low revenue residents and households preserve gasoline and scale back vitality prices by making their houses and residences extra vitality environment friendly.

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Chicago, IL

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Crew by way of

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 3:26AM

FILE photograph: View of the Chicago Hearth Division, the third largest municipal hearth division in america of America, within the Chinatown neighborhood on Sept. 24, 2014.
Shutterstock

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago hearth officers mentioned two ladies have been discovered lifeless in an Englewood house after a home hearth.

The fireplace broke out Tuesday night at a home within the 7200-block of South Wolcott, Chicago hearth officers mentioned.

The fireplace was struck out at about 9:10 p.m., CFD mentioned.

After the fireplace was out, firefighters discovered two grownup feminine victims lifeless within the wreckage.

It was not instantly clear if the ladies died within the hearth or earlier than the fireplace. No additional particulars have been launched.

The Chicago Hearth Division has not but commented on any potential causes for the fireplace or mentioned in the event that they consider it was suspicious.

Chicago, IL

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

HIGHLAND PARK, Ailing. (WLS) — Three ladies and their households had been good strangers up till the second tragedy introduced them collectively within the aftermath of Highland Park’s July 4th parade.

As Thanksgiving approaches, they’re united in goal and in gratitude for probably the most primary of all issues: life.

“I believed I used to be going to die,” Highland Park capturing survivor Liz Turnipseed mentioned. “That I used to be going to put there and I used to be going to bleed out and I used to be going to die.”

WATCH | Highland Park capturing survivor tells her story

“I used to be on the parade with my three grownup kids, my son-in-law and my 2-year-old grand child,” mentioned Debra Baum, with the Highland Park Gun Violence Mission. “Our complete household may have been worn out.”

“July third I had 70 folks at my home and the following day our life bought flipped the other way up,” capturing survivor Lindsay Hartman mentioned. “So I simply know for me, I am attempting to take pleasure in it and never spend an excessive amount of time previously.”

SEE ALSO | Highland Park parade capturing short-term memorial opens subsequent to metropolis corridor

For Lindsay, not spending an excessive amount of time previously means internet hosting Thanksgiving for 30. Liz, who was one of many almost 50 folks injured that day, nonetheless wants a cane to get round, so she’ll be catering the meal and having her complete household fly in. Debra shall be coming along with the identical household she was with on July 4.

“There are numerous households in Highland Park that do not have folks with them this Thanksgiving due to what occurred,” Baum mentioned. “It is a very weighty realization.”

However there’s additionally gratitude for random issues and other people, like for the proper strangers who took in Liz’s 3-year-old daughter for a few hours after she was shot. And the neighbor she’d by no means met earlier than who lent her a step stool for her mattress.

Turning ache into goal is what unites these ladies now as they foyer for an assault weapons ban in Congress. As a result of whereas life for them won’t ever be the identical, it does transfer on.

Chicago, IL

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Tuesday, November 22, 2022 8:52PM

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration is but once more extending the pause on federal scholar mortgage funds, a profit that started in March 2020 to assist individuals who have been struggling financially because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a supply conversant in the plan mentioned.

The Division of Training will announce it’s extending the freeze one other six months with the primary funds due two months after June 30, the supply mentioned, until a Supreme Courtroom resolution on the president’s scholar mortgage aid program comes first.

The administration had beforehand mentioned the latest extension could be the final, and funds have been scheduled to restart in January.

However the administration had additionally meant for its scholar mortgage forgiveness program to start canceling as much as $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income debtors earlier than January. This system has but to be carried out because it faces a number of authorized challenges.

This story is breaking and can be up to date.