State extends deadline to apply for emergency rental assistance
Issued: Aug. 19, 2020
The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has extended the deadline for Illinois renters to apply for aid by one week to noon on Aug, 28 due to those impacted by the recent storms. In addition, landlords will be given an additional two days, through Aug. 30, to complete their portion of the application. The Emergency Rental Assistance program provides $5,000 to eligible tenants who have seen their household income decline as a result of the COVID-19.
For an application for to be considered complete, landlords are required to submit additional documentation before their application period closes on Aug. 30. It's recommended that renters be proactive in notifying their landlords they have applied for assistance under the Emergency Rental Assistance program and that they will receive an email from the IHDA inviting them to submit required documentation.
Renters affected by the storms, or those requiring assistance navigating the application process, are encouraged to reach out to one of the 62 Community and Outreach Assistance organizations with which IHDA has partnered. These organizations can be found on the "Resources" page at era.ihda.org. For additional help, applicants may also contact IHDA’s call center at (312) 883-2720, or toll-free at (888) 252-1119. For those who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired, please contact Navicore Solutions for free assistance at (877) 274-4309 (TTY).
Extension of the ERA program will not affect or delay the launch of the Emergency Mortgage Assistance program on Aug. 24, 2020.
Village Board passes face coverings resolution
Issued: April 23, 2020
In an effort to protect public health and ensure the safety of essential workers, the Village Board on Tuesday passed a resolution necessitating that all people engaging in activities outside their homes in Tinley Park wear protective face coverings to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This includes all employees and visitors of any grocery store, pharmacy or drug store, convenience store, gas station and other essential businesses.
The resolution also contains other requirements for businesses, such as posting public notices regarding the new resolution, providing face coverings and hand sanitizer to all employees, and ensuring all high-touch surfaces within the business are kept sanitized. Businesses have the right to refuse admission or service to anyone not wearing a face covering.
Please keep in mind that this resolution is intended to protect vulnerable residents and essential staff working retail and other jobs that involve a great deal of personal interaction with the public. Everyone has a right to feel safe and comfortable in public, whether it’s to go to work or to shop for essential supplies. Simply put, wearing face coverings in public will protect the health of our community.
The resolution doesn’t apply to those engaged in outdoor activities such as walking, running, biking or other solitary physical activity; riding in a personal vehicle; those who are alone or with household members in a separate single space; and while drinking or eating. The resolution also makes an exclusion for situations in which wearing face coverings would create a greater health, safety or security risk.
Residents can make their own face coverings using materials around the house, provided these homemade masks cover the nose and mouth. Providence Life Services in Tinley Park has provided a step-by-step guide to creating your own cloth mask. Similarly, Good Morning America recently posted a clip showing how to make a simple mask using a bandanna and two rubber bands. This method is detailed in the graph at the bottom of this story.
There are many independent groups that have been working tirelessly to make and/or donate face coverings to those who need them. If you have face coverings you’d like to donate, please send an email to COVID19inquiry@TinleyPark.org. While the Village doesn’t have the resources to provide face coverings for everyone, if you are unable to make a face covering on your own, notify the Village at the same email address and every effort will be made to assist in securing one for you.
Regardless of whether or not a situation requires face coverings, the public is still strongly encouraged to practice social distancing by keeping at least six feet away from others and not congregating in groups of 10 or more people.
This resolution coincides with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s recent announcement that the statewide “Stay at Home” order is being extended to May 31 and will now include new regulations, including mandatory use of face coverings in public places across Illinois. The Village will be reviewing these new State regulations in the following days to ensure we’re in compliance.
ComEd warns of COVID-19 energy scams
Issued: April 14, 2020
Imposters posing as ComEd employees are taking advantage of the uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 crisis to approach individuals and steal their personal information and money.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, ComEd has received reports of scammers, posing as utility representatives, approaching customers who may be self-isolating or having difficulty paying their bills. These imposters threaten to shut service off or offer cash or credit incentives to obtain a customer’s personal or financial information.
In some cases, scammers will “spoof” ComEd’s name and phone number so that a call appears to be from ComEd. They may demand a customer to make a direct payment with a prepaid cash card. In other instances, scammers ask victims to call them back at a different phone number and provide personal information. They may duplicate the recorded message that customers hear when calling a legitimate company, so when customers call the number provided by the scammer, it sounds like an actual business.
ComEd will never come to a customer’s home or business to demand a payment, ask for immediate payment with a prepaid cash card, or ask for your ComEd account number or other personal information, such as a driver’s license number.
Similarly, ComEd will never call a customer to ask for their account number, ask for personal information such as their Social Security number or bank information, or ask them to make a direct payment with a prepaid cash card.
Remember, all ComEd field employees wear a uniform with the ComEd logo, including shirt and safety vest, and ComEd employees visibly display a company ID badge with the ComEd logo and employee’s name.
ComEd urges anyone who believes he or she has been a target or victim of an energy-related scam to contact ComEd at (800) 334-7661. For more tips on identifying energy-related scams, visit ComEd.com/ScamAlert.
Gov. Pritzker announces 'STAY AT HOME' order starting March 21
Issued: March 20, 2020
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday issued a "stay at home" order to all Illinois residents in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The order begins at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 21 and will last until Tuesday, April 7. [NOTE: This order has since been extended to April 30.]
During this time, residents should stay at home unless they are doing an essential activity such as buying groceries, seeking medical treatment, taking care of a loved one, getting gas, picking up prescription medication, going to a laundromat, engaging in outdoor exercise, taking a pet for a walk, or traveling to jobs that have been deemed essential (such as healthcare providers, grocery store clerks and first responders).
While the order is in effect, public and private gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited, and residents are encouraged to practice social distancing to ensure there is at least six feet between people. Elderly residents and those who are at a high risk should take extra precautions by staying indoors as much as possible.
“You’ll still be able to do a lot of things, including outdoor activities like walking or riding your bike, and of course getting needed supplies and medications,” Mayor Jacob Vandenberg said. “You’ll even still be able to go to certain restaurants for take-out. For those of us who have already begun to self-quarantine, things really won’t change that much.”
Essential services that will still be operational include grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, police and fire stations; certain government offices, hospitals, clinics and healthcare operations; garbage collection, public transportation and public benefits such as Medicaid; convenience stores, liquor stores, laundry services, hardware and supply stores; financial institutions and mail service. Residents will be allowed to take advantage of these services during the order.
“This may be an executive order, but we should look at it as more of an opportunity to work together to do our part to make sure the most vulnerable among us stay safe,” Vandenberg said. “This is only temporary. If we all look out for each other and stick together, we’ll get through this.”
Find out more about the Village’s response to the COVID-19 virus on the Village website at TinleyPark.org/COVID-19. Read Gov. Pritzker’s executive order or see a list of frequently asked questions for more information.
COVID-19 case confirmed in Tinley Park
Issued: March 20, 2020
The Village would like residents to be aware that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Tinley Park.
On the evening of March 17, 2020, one of the Village’s Kurtz EMS Ambulance crews transported a patient to Silver Cross Hospital. Silver Cross notified the ambulance crew the morning of March 20 that the patient test came back positive for COVID-19. EMS personnel were wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and decontaminated per IDPH guidelines. Out of the abundance of caution, the EMS crew is self-isolating.
This same EMS crew came in contact with staff at Fire Station 48. Per CDC guidelines, all employees that were in contact with this crew are to self-monitor for symptoms. So far, no Village personnel have tested positive or exhibited any symptoms of the virus. As a result of this exposure, Fire Station 48 was temporarily taken out of service as a precaution while being decontaminated. Cleaning at the station has been completed, and the building is back in service.
The Village’s first responders are very well-trained and wear PPE to help mitigate against health or safety risks.
Please be advised that both Illinois Department of Public Health and the CDC recommend that if anyone experiences mild symptoms of COVID-19, to stay home, isolate themselves and contact their doctor.