ComEd ~ Offering Hardship Assistance Available for Senior Citizens

The holiday season is here and I am sure everybody budgets are really tight. While, many of Chicago's families faces hardships, many forget about our vurnable seniors who may need help. One program that is offering help to seniors is the ComEd CARE. The ComEd CARE programs offer a range of financial assistance to help eligible customers pay their electric bills. As part of CARE, ComEd is offering to help senior citizens with past-due balances. ComEd understand that it’s sometimes hard to make ends meet and they want to help this holiday season.

This holiday season, ComEd is giving the gift of energy by dedicating more than $300,000 through a special “Senior Giving” hardship fund created to help senior citizens who have fallen behind on paying their electric bill. Now through Dec. 25, or while funds are available, ComEd will pay up to $1,500 towards eligible customer’s past due balance.

How to apply? 
If you are a senior citizen and would like to apply, please call 877-411-9276 to learn more or to locate your local LIHEAP office. Go here to find your local office.

What to bring?  
Driver’s License or State ID
Social Security Number
Current Bill (in your name) showing the past-due balance

Tuition Free Classes at South Suburban College for Unemployed Residents

Do you live in the College District 51? If so, please be sure to read this full post and share with those who can benefit. Starting December 8th, South Suburban College Rebound "Tuition-Free" Program for Unemployed Residents will begin taking applications. Rebound is a tuition-free educational program for unemployed residents in College District 51. Rebound classes are offered in 19 select academic areas offering short-term certificates or degrees leading to new, rewarding careers.

To qualify, Rebound applicants must live in College District 510 and have lost their job since 2011 for reasons other than performance, and remain unemployed. Seats in these classes are offered on a first come, first served basis. General registration is currently open, while Rebound students must wait until December 8th to begin selecting their courses. Spring classes begin on Monday, January 12, 2015.

For more information, please contact Job Training Department at (708) 596-2000, extension 2530, emailJobTrainingDept@ssc.edu or visit www.ssc.edu.
Not sure if you live in College District 51, check out this map found here.

Chicago Public School - 2014 -215 College Scholarship Guide

It is never too early start applying for scholarships. With the growing rates of tuition and the student loan interest rates, more and more parents and students are looking for free funds to help pay for post-secondary education. For the youth who attend Chicago Public School, the 2014-2015 CPS College Scholarship Guide is now available and can be used to assist you with you scholarship search. 


 Parents and students please note that . . . 

• This is not a complete list of all scholarships available. It is best that you to search on your own online, check out books at the library, and/or talk to your counselor to get additional information on scholarships that may be a good fit for you

• As scholarship deadlines, requirements and eligibility are subject to change from year to year. Take the time to verify deadlines and criteria by downloading scholarship materials from the provider’s web site or requesting a copy of the current scholarship application.
  
• Most colleges and universities provide their own scholarships, so be sure to visit individual college web sites for scholarships specific to the institutions that interest you.

Go here to download and refer to the 2014-2015 CPS College Scholarship Guide as a tool to help you with applying for scholarships.

Chicago Housing Authority - Wait-List Registration Opening Opening 10/27/2014 until 11/24/2014

I know it has been a while since I posted a resource, but I am back with a big one that needs to be shared with all of Chicago.  For the first time, CHA will simultaneously open three of its waitlists - Family Public Housing, Tenant-Based Housing Choice Voucher (formerly Section 8) and Property Rental Assistance to help fill CHA-owned and assisted rental units as they become available. This is truly a historic opportunity for Chicago.  CHA  invite low-income families and individuals to register.

If you or know someone in the need of affordable housing, please share with them that they will have four weeks to register online - for free. Those who are interested must sign up at www.thechawaitlist.org anytime between Oct. 27, 2014 and Nov. 24, 2014. All registrations received during this period will have an equal chance of being selected for the lottery.  For more information, you can call 312-971-7700.

High School Resource: Free ACT Preparation Classes in Chicago

Calling all Chicago Juniors and Seniors, if you are looking to go to college after high school, one test that you must take is the ACT {American College Testing} . The ACT test is really a standards-based educational and career planning tool that assesses students' academic readiness for college.  Many school require you to have this score in order to be admitted into post secondary education.

Students have shown that that test doses not predict the youth's ability to be ready for college, but it is a requirement.  Also when you have a higher score, you are open to more scholarship opportunities.  To help the youth of Chicago succeed on the ACT,  the organization "Whatever It Takes" offers free ten-week ACT prep class taught by University of Chicago students. Classes are held every Saturday from 10 AM - 2 PM on their campus in the Hyde Park.  

It is important that you register ASAP, registration closes on Sunday, August 31st, at 11:59 PM CST. Students who are accepted will be notified by Sunday, September 14th.

Go here to register for the Free ACT preparation classes.  

Whatever it takes also offers a free SAT preparation classes, you can go here to check out more details. Register soon, because the deadline if quickly approaching.  

Low Cost Rabies Vaccine and Microchips Clinics for City of Chicago Residents

I am sure if you are a pet owner, you know their are a few laws that you need to know regarding your pet. One main law that city of Chicago residents must adhere to is making sure that any dog six months of age or older must have his or her dog vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. This vaccination prevents the spread of rabies and protects the dog and the public.

 
To help City of Chicago residents save on this expense, the Cook County Animal and Rabies Control clinics, provide affordable rabies vaccinations to bring all citizens into compliance with the law.  The Chicago Animal Care & Control also host “Low-Cost Vaccine Clinics” for City of Chicago residents.

Rabies Vaccine and Microchip Clinic
Sponsored by The Cook County Animal and Rabies Control

Fees:

• Rabies vaccines will cost $7 for a one year and $21 for a three year.  
• Ferrets may only be vaccinated for one year and the cost of the vaccine is $9.  
• Pet owners can have their pets microchipped for $10; however, this does not include the national registration fee.

Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Locations:
Tuesday, Aug. 26th 

Piotrowski Park

4247 W. 31st Street

Chicago, IL

Wednesday, Sept.24th 

Harrison Park

1824 S. Wood

Chicago, IL

Tuesday, Sept. 16th 

Martin Temple AME Zion

6930 S. Cottage

Chicago, IL

Tuesday, Aug. 26th 

Piotrowski Park

4247 W. 31st Street

Chicago, IL

Photo Credit: City of Chicago 

Low Cost Pet Vaccine Clinic

Sponsored by the Chicago Animal Care & Control

Fees:

DA2PPL (Distemper for Dogs) $7.00 ea. vaccination

FVRCP (Distemper for Cats) $7.00 ea. vaccination

Rabies 15.00 ea. vaccination

Microchip $15.00 ea.

Dog License $5.00 neutered dog

Dog License $50.00 un-neutered dog

Hours:
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Location:

2741 S. Western Ave

Dates:
Wednesday, September 17^th  

Wednesday, October 15^th       
Wednesday, November 12th  
Wednesday, December 17^th    

Free Mulch for City of Chicago Residents

Calling all Chicago home owners, the Bureau of Forestry of the Department of Streets & Sanitation offers free mulch.  The mulch is available on a limited basis for pick up during working hours of 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday.

The tree mulch makes great use for gardening, flowerbeds, tree beds, playgrounds, parking areas and many other countless uses. Mulch can be used around the trunk of trees, it will benefit trees by helping roots stay warm during the cold and keep roots cool during the summer time.

The locations for pick up are:

• 4101 North Oak Park Avenue (Chicago Read Center)
• Grand and Rockwell  (South of Grand Avenue, behind of the salt pile, along the south fence)
• 52nd and Oakley (near the Salt Dome)
• 2342 South Ashland Avenue (North West corner of property)
• 900 East 103rd Street (North East corner of property)

You can call 311 or visit these locations for more information on how to obtain free mulch for your home or business.  With the sky rocket prices I will be making a stop by a location near me to get the yard together for fall landscaping.