☃️🩵 Winter Resources
Dear Neighbor,
As colder weather has set in, I wanted to use this week’s newsletter to share winter resources that support the safety and warmth of our communities.
Food Security
SNAP Updates
The federal government passed a new law that makes significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Link in Illinois. Follow these steps before February 1 so you don’t lose your food and grocery benefits:
Update your information: Report any changes in your income or changes to your household to the Illinois Department of Human Services.
Review work requirements: Find out if you need to be connected to a job, volunteer opportunity or education and training program for at least 80 hours per month. If you qualify for an exemption, apply for one.
Stay informed! Get the latest updates and share this information with family and friends.
Don’t wait until your benefits stop. Take action today! Support is available. No one should go hungry because of paperwork. Visit the Greater Chicago Food Depository to get help managing your benefits or to sign up for SNAP today.
Food Pantries
Onward House’s food pantry is on Tuesdays, from 2 to 6pm and on Thursdays, from 1 to 6pm at 5433 West Diversey Ave. They are also looking for volunteers to help with food pantries and other community programming.
Advocate Health Care and Northwest Side mutual aid groups host frequent free hot community meals to-go and free groceries at St. Nicolai United Church of Christ, 3000 N Kedzie Ave. Community meals are every Thursday of the month from 12 to 1:30pm. In January, they will be on January 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29.
January’s free grocery giveaway will be on Wednesday, January 21 from 12:30 to 1:30pm. All food will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. No ID or registration necessary.
The Irving Park Community Food Pantry serves the 60641 and 60618 zip codes and has a volunteer-run food pantry within the Emanuel United Methodist Church at 4256 N. Ridgeway Ave on Wednesdays from 9:00am - 12:00pm and Second Tuesdays of every month from 6:00pm - 7:00pm. You can also donate time and funds to support this work.
Warmth and Housing
Keep Warm Illinois
Extreme cold causes thousands of cold-related injuries each year. Illinois residents can find safe, accessible warming centers and a variety of other winter resources at KeepWarm.Illinois.Gov.
LIHEAP and LIDR Programs
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, helps eligible households with low-income pay for home energy services. This includes assistance with heating gas, propane and electricity.
The last day to apply online with the Request for Services form is April 15. After this date you can still apply through your local administering agency through August 15, or until funding is exhausted.
The Low Income Discount Rate Program, LIDR, can help with paying a percentage of a qualified customer’s bill. Both residential heating and non-heating customers are eligible for the Low Income Discount Credit. Only residential heating customers are eligible for additional grants through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Peoples Gas Share the Warmth program. to reduce the cost of utilities for low-income households.
To increase awareness and enrollment of eligible people, Legal Action is hosting free, 1-hour info sessions running through May 2026 to learn more about the programs, how to enroll, and the state of utilities costs in Illinois and Chicago. There will be two online-only sessions and six in-person sessions, which are being held in partnership with the Chicago Public Library. Three of the in-person sessions will have Spanish translation. Learn more about the info sessions and LIDR programs by emailing Dan Schneider at dschneider@legalactionchicago.org.
Affordable Housing
Bickerdike Apartments, LLC will be opening affordable housing waitlists for the following properties for a very limited time beginning on at 9:00 am on the following dates:
December 15
La Estancia Apartments
December 22 (ADA Units only)
Boulevard Apartments Preservation
Rosa Parks Apartments
Zapata Apartments
Interested persons should submit a pre-application on-line at www.bickerdike.org/our-properties/ and select “Before Applying” to find links to currently open waitlists.
Healthcare
Health Insurance Deadline
The deadline to enroll in health insurance in Illinois has been extended. Enroll on or before December 31 for health coverage beginning January 1, 2026. Visit GetCoveredIllinois.gov for more information.
Advocate Mobile Health Van
On Wednesday, January 21 from 10am to 1:30pm, Advocate Health Care will have their Mobile Health Van at St. Nicolai United Church of Christ, 3000 N Kedzie Ave., available for free health screenings, like blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol checks.
PCC Community Wellness Center at Steinmetz
Various health services are available to Steinmetz students and community members of all ages. The community entrance is located on the northwest side of Steinmetz High School near Narragansett Ave. and Nelson St., 3030 N. Mobile Avenue, Door #8.
Old Irving Park Community Clinic
The Old Irving Park Community Clinic, at 5425 W. Addison St., is a primary care facility that provides quality, free, culturally competent medical and behavioral health care in a dignified and respectful manner to uninsured and underserved adults. You can make an appointment by calling 773-427-0298, Monday through Friday, from 9am to 5pm.
Federally Qualified Health Centers
Federally Qualified Health Centers offer medical services on a sliding fee scale based on income, regardless of insurance status. These clinics are available throughout Illinois and offer services including medical, dental, and behavioral health care. Find a clinic at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
As always, my office is here to help navigate state programs and connect you to services and resources. You can reach us by phone or email at (773) 853-2570 and will@repguzzardi.com.
Be well, and happy holidays,
Will
Holiday Office Closure
My office will be closed for the holidays from Wednesday, December 24 through Friday, January 2 and will reopen on Monday, January 5, 2026. Thank you, and happy holidays to you and yours!
Digital Skills for Small Business
Center for Changing Lives is hosting a hybrid business education cohort called Digital Skills for Small Business in early 2026. In this course, participants will learn the key benefits of digital solutions for small businesses and how to take advantage of free and affordable online and digital resources to improve customer experience and reduce business costs.
The cohort will start on Tuesday, January 20 and will meet weekly from 12 to 2pm for 6 weeks. Register here by Wednesday, January 14.
Stormwater Partnership Programs
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago has opportunities through their Stormwater Partnership Programs for public entities such as municipalities, townships, county agencies, park districts, school districts, and other government organizations that have community stormwater projects or flooding concerns. For details and application materials, visit MWRD's Stormwater Partnership Program.