ROCKFORD —The City of Rockford has been awarded a total of $520,000 to help area homeowners with repairs, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) announced.

“At some point in life almost everyone needs emergency home repairs,” Stadelman said. “At any time, these repairs can cause serious financial strain for families, and this is especially true right now.”

The Illinois Housing Development Authority Board of Directors awarded the City of Rockford the grant to help low-income homeowners with necessary home repairs. The group awarded $11,000,000 statewide through the state’s Single Family Rehabilitation Program. The lump sum is projected to help at least 326 families. 

The Single Family Rehabilitation Program provides forgivable loans of up to $45,000 per household to assist with necessary repairs to remove documented health and safety hazards. Eligible repairs include roofing, flooring and plumbing, among others. 

A roof-only option is also available for people who do not need other repairs. Those recipients are offered up to $16,500 to mitigate against future roof damage. 

“The funds that have been awarded to Rockford will provide much needed relief to these families who are already experiencing the added stress of the uncertain times we’re living in,” Stadelman said. “I’m asking anyone who needs additional assistance to apply for help.”

Households that are eligible can find additional information on The Illinois Housing Development Authority’s website, www.ihda.org.

New COVID-19 testing center open in Little Village

CHICAGO – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) announced today that a new COVID-19 testing facility is open in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago.

“The systemic health disparities my community faces have existed since well before this pandemic, but are now on display for everyone to see,” Villanueva said. “I am grateful that the state is increasing testing availability in the communities hardest hit by coronavirus. Everyone deserves access to quality health care, regardless of their ZIP code.”

The new testing facility will be administered by Howard Brown Health and located at Project Vida, 2659 S. Kedvale Ave., Chicago. They can be reached by phone at 773-388-1600. Services will be available to all residents regardless of immigration status.

Other COVID-19 testing sites in and near the 11^th Senate District include:

• AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center, 5101 Willow Springs Rd., La Grange (708-245-9000)
• Esperanza Health Center, 2001 S. California Ave., #100, Chicago (773-584-6200)
• Esperanza Health Center, 4700 S. California Ave., Chicago (773-584-6200)
• Lawndale Christian Health Center, 3860 Ogden Ave., Chicago (872-588-3000)
• Mile Square Health Center, 1220 S. Wood St., Chicago (312-996-2000)
• Rush Oak Park Hospital, 520 S. Maple Ave., Chicago (708-383-9300)
• Saint Anthony Hospital, 2875 W. 19^th St., Chicago (773-484-1000)
• Sinai Health System, 1500 S. Fairfield Ave., Chicago (773-542-2000)

Many testing sites require you to make an appointment with your primary health provider before getting tested for COVID-19. Please call in advance to see what steps are necessary before getting tested.

PARK FOREST — In these uncertain times, we all have a lot of questions. As a state senator, Patrick Joyce strives to keep everyone updated with the most useful and accurate information.

“My most important job is to inform residents about resources that can help them during this hard and uncertain time,” said Joyce, a Democrat from Essex. “My office is working around the clock to address all questions and concerns our community has.”

Sen. Joyce’s district office is adhering to the Stay at Home Order, and all staff is working remotely. However, phone calls are forwarded and emails are still being answered.

If people need help identifying an entity to help with unemployment, food, shelter and other topics that can be difficult to navigate, Senator Joyce’s office is happy to help. It can be reached by calling the district office at (807) 756-0882, the Springfield office at (217) 782-7419 or emailing here.

To get the most up-to-date information relating to COVID-19 straight to their inbox, people are encouraged to sign up for Senator Joyce’s newsletter here. The Illinois Senate Democrats also recently rolled out a COVID-19 webpage, which outlines closures, family resources, the governor’s daily briefing and more. To find it, click here.

CHICAGO – With the Lyons Elementary School District 103 board scheduled to meet tonight to consider cutting custodial staff, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) released the following statement:

“The school board needs to rethink reducing custodial staff during a global pandemic. Custodians have been essential to our public health even before this pandemic so firing them now will put students at higher risk.

“I am calling on our community to come together for these hard-working individuals whose labor is underappreciated and undervalued. It is an insult that their livelihoods are on the line at the same time that administrative positions with six-figure salaries are being considered.”

People interested in making a public comment must email their public comment to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by April 22, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Comments are limited to 200 words and will be read during the meeting.

WESTERN SPRINGS – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) again urged residents to take advantage of assistance from her office to help connect with pandemic response resources during the Stay at Home Order.

“My most important job right now is to connect residents with the resources that can help them navigate this crisis,” Glowiak Hilton said. “My office is working to address any questions and concerns our community has.”

Senator Glowiak Hilton’s district office is adhering to the Stay at Home Order, and all staff are working remotely. However, phone calls are forwarded and emails are still being answered.

If people need help identifying an entity to help with unemployment, food, shelter or other services that can be difficult to navigate, Senator Glowiak Hilton’s office can be reached by calling 630-785-3177 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To get the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, Senator Glowiak Hilton encourages residents to sign up for her e-newsletter here. The Illinois Senate Democrats also recently launched a new COVID-19 webpage, which outlines closures, family resources, the governor’s daily briefing and more.

CHAMPAIGN – As the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold, many people continue to have a lot of questions. As a state senator, Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) strives to keep everyone updated with the most helpful and accurate information.

“As we continue to face these difficult and uncertain times, it is vitally important that residents stay informed and, even more importantly, that they get accurate information,” said Bennett. “Our Champaign and Danville offices are ready to answer questions and provide support in accessing state services.”   

Sen. Bennett’s district offices are adhering to the Stay at Home Order, and all staff is working remotely. However, phone calls are forwarded and emails are still being answered.

If people need help identifying an entity to help with unemployment, food, shelter and other topics that can be difficult to navigate, Senator Bennett’s office is happy to help. It can be reached by calling 217-355-5252 or 217-442-5252.

To get the most up-to-date information relating to COVID-19 straight to their inbox, people are encouraged to sign up for Senator Bennett’s newsletter here. The Illinois Senate Democrats also recently rolled out a COVID-19 webpage, which outlines closures, family resources, the governor’s daily briefing and more. To find it, click here.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Seeing an increase in hate crimes and harassment committed against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) released the following statement:

“Since the outbreak of COVID-19 there has been a significant increase in crimes committed against the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. It is on all of us to stand up against hate – especially in our own community.

“A welcoming state is more than just the law – it takes each and every one of us to actively call out discrimination when and where we see it. It takes courage to do this, but we must make it clear that hate is not welcome in our community. I urge anyone who experiences or witnesses harassment of any kind to report it to the Attorney General.”

You can report incidents on the Illinois Attorney General’s website, by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or by calling 877-581-3692.

CHICAGO — State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is emphasizing the importance of safe sleep for infants during a time when many parents are experiencing heightened stress levels and alternative daily routines, which could include new caregivers for their children.

Parents should remember the ABCs of sleep safety. A child should be alone and never sleeping with someone else, placed on their back and not on their sides or stomach, and in a crib rather than on a bed or couch.

“Some families, especially those of essential workers, are developing new daily routines during this unprecedented time, which could include new child care providers or caregivers,” Hunter said. “I would encourage every parent to have a conversation with any alternative caregiver about the ABC’s of sleep and other rules for a safe sleep environment.”

Sleep suffocation is the leading cause of reported child deaths in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Last year, between January 1 and June 30, 53 infants in Illinois under the age of 1 died as a result of being put to sleep unsafely. Being placed in a location to sleep other than a crib, bassinet or pack and play; lying in positions that weren’t on their back; or co-sleeping lead to the deaths.

Babies are safest when they are alone in a crib with a firm mattress and tightly-fitted sheets. The crib should not have any pillows, blankets or stuffed animals. Additionally, a baby should never be put to sleep on an adult bed or couch.

“These are simple and vital steps every parent and caregiver should keep in mind when saying goodnight to a little one,” Hunter said. “There are many products on the market that promise to reduce the risk of accidental suffocation or SIDS, but parents should know that practicing the ABC’s of sleep is the safest measure we can take to ensure safe and healthy sleep for babies and infants.”

Parents having difficulty getting their baby to sleep should contact their pediatrician or the Fussy Baby Network at 1-888-431-BABY (2229) for professional guidance.

Parents can also visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Crib Safety Information Center for sleep safety tips and a list of recalled products.