CHICAGO – Illinoisans across the state have faced financial struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic — but those on Chicago’s South Side have been disproportionately affected. Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is urging those residents to apply for the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program.

“People desperately need help with rent,” Hunter said. “Though residents can’t get evicted right now, they will still need to pay their rent at some point. It’s my hope the program will help those who have been unemployed or not receiving income due to COVID-19 to catch up on their bills.”

Earlier this week, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced $150 million in available funds to help residents across the state during this national emergency by introducing the largest housing assistance program in the nation.

Tenants whose applications are approved will receive one-time grants of up to $5,000 paid directly to their landlords to cover missed rent payments beginning March 2020 and prepay payments through December 2020, or until the $5,000 is exhausted, whichever comes first.

Tenants are eligible if:

• Their household income before March 1, 2020 was at or below 80% of the Area Median Income,
• An adult member of the household had a loss of income due to the COVID-19 crisis on or after March 1, 2020; or
• A household has an unpaid rent balance that began on or after March 1, 2020.

“Helping people most in need is what the government is supposed to do,” Hunter said. “I’m proud our state is able to do something impactful during this time.”

Residents who are eligible may apply online at era.idha.org. Applications for ERA will be accepted now through Aug. 21.

Please note, applicants should apply as soon as possible, as the application window may close early due to high volume.

Commits to meaningful investments to close racial disparities in kidney health

CHICAGO – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) has been appointed co-chair of the Kidney Disease Prevention and Education Task Force, a new panel charged with raising public awareness and presenting solutions to reduce the prevalence of kidney disease and racial disparities in diagnoses and outcomes.

“Especially in the African-American community, a largely preventable disease is claiming the lives of our neighbors simply due to lack of awareness and access to treatment,” Hunter said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and the leading professionals on the task force to reduce the burden of kidney disease and eradicate the racial inequities in kidney health. It’s time for meaningful investments in outreach, research, and health coverage to close this disparity.”

The task force will work with leading educational institutions in Illinois to create health education programs to increase awareness of and examine chronic kidney disease, early detection, transplants and kidney donations, and the greater rates of diagnosis in minority groups. This will include a public outreach campaign consisting of health education workshops, seminars, preventative screening events, and social media, TV, and radio outreach.

African-Americans are four times as likely to develop kidney failure as Caucasians, while Hispanics are twice as likely. Almost half of the people waiting for a kidney in Illinois identify as African American, but, in 2017, less than 10% of them received a kidney.

Hunter is a long-time advocate against racial health inequality. In recent months, Hunter has bolstered her calls for accelerated investments and policy solutions following the COVID-19 pandemic’s disproportionate impact on minority communities.

“Closing the vast health disparities can no longer be an afterthought. It must be an urgent and primary priority for leaders at every level,” Hunter said.

Kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States. If chronic kidney disease is detected early and managed correctly, swift treatment can slow and even stop kidney deterioration.

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. Roughly one in four adults with diabetes has kidney disease. An estimated 31 million Americans, including 1.12 million Illinois residents, are living with chronic kidney disease.

The task force will consist of legislators, doctors, non-profit leaders, and officials from the Department of Public Health and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. It is required to submit a report to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2020, and then be dissolved.

CHICAGO – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is calling on healthy, eligible African-Americans in Illinois to help replenish the state’s blood supply, which is declining rapidly due to blood drive cancellations at businesses, churches and schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

African-American blood donors are particularly needed to help patients battling sickle cell disease amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Sickle cell patients are at high risk of serious complications from coronavirus infection.

“For the black community, this is another layer to our public health emergency. Sickle cell disease tends to affect African-American communities, which are disproportionately suffering from COVID-19 and already lack equal access to preventative health care and treatment,” Hunter said. “Even one donation could save the life of someone in our community.”

Red Cross blood centers have seen donations by African-Americans drop by more than 50% since the novel coronavirus outbreak began in March. Patients with sickle cell disease depend on transfusions from donors with closely matched blood – beyond the A, B, O and AB types – to reduce the risk of complications. According to the American Red Cross, each donation center is required to follow the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to ensure the health of all those in attendance.

“This is a matter of life or death for patients with sickle cell disease and those who rely on transfusions to make it through surgery,” Hunter said. “Now is the time to support our neighbors. I strongly encourage all healthy, able Chicagoans to step up and help fill this void.”

Many blood centers throughout the state have extended their operating hours to meet the critical need for donations. To make an appointment to donate blood with the Red Cross, residents can visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 800-733-2767.

CHICAGO - State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) released the following statement in response to reports that 13 Chicago police officers were caught on tape lounging and sleeping in the congressional campaign office of U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush while violence and destruction ensued in the surrounding neighborhood:

"The disrespectful and careless behavior of these officers shows that there are two different standards of policing in Chicago, depending on which neighborhood you live in. It also further erodes public trust in law enforcement at a time when cultivating a positive relationship between police and the residents they serve couldn’t be more important. Needless to say, our neighborhoods deserve better than this."

CHICAGO - State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) released the following statement in response to the signing of the state’s fiscal year 2021 budget by Governor JB Pritzker:

“This budget will go a long way toward mending the health and economic damages caused by the current pandemic, which have been largely concentrated in black communities I represent. Additionally, it will help protect the health and well-being of older Illinoisans and people with disabilities by strengthening the Community Care Program and the Home Services Program, which are key to our fight against COVID-19.

“While it will take bold investments for years to come to close the vast racial health inequities further exposed by the pandemic, this budget lays the groundwork by expanding funding for Medicaid and community health centers. I appreciate Governor Pritzker recognizing that critical need, and I hope he will continue to make these disparities a priority when we return to Springfield.”

SPRINGFIELD – With Gov. Pritzker’s signature, Illinois Medicaid recipients would be eligible for life-saving clinical trials to treat cancer and other serious diseases.

“We know that African-Americans are significantly underrepresented among those who participate in clinical trials, meaning we lose out on life-saving opportunities and unanswered questions then remain on the effectiveness of these medications for blacks,” said State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago).

“Because Medicaid recipients are much more diverse, this measure will help reduce that disparity for black patients and for low-income white residents, while advancing the overall fight against cancer.”

CHICAGO – In light of Gov. JB Pritzker’s recent announcement that Illinois schools will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is encouraging Chicago’s remote learners and educators to use the state’s new drive-up Wi-Fi hotspot map to find free wireless internet locations.

“Lack of internet access for urban families is one of many significant problems underscored by COVID-19,” Hunter said. “While it will take long-term solutions to close this divide, this interactive map is a great tool for the thousands of students whose academic progress has been thrown off balance in the middle of the school year.”

Designed to assist students at every level who don’t have consistent internet access in their homes, the interactive map provides drive-up Wi-Fi locations throughout the state and specific log-in instructions for visitors. Students and their parents or guardians should continue to practice social distancing by remaining in their cars while using the hotspots.

As of May 11, the Wi-Fi map has 380 hotspots students can use to complete coursework.

“Low-income students in our community already face problems that hinder their educational outcomes,” Hunter said. “It’s important we do everything we can to help keep student support networks strong, in addition to keeping them on track academically.”

To find a hotspot near you, click here.