Thank You for Being a Part of Our Journey This Year 🎆
Dear Neighbor,
As we put the finishing touches on 2022 and get ready to celebrate the holidays with friends and family, I wanted to take a moment to look back on some of my favorite moments from the past year. Thanks to support from neighbors and advocates like you, we were able to achieve some really important policy wins this year, provide services to thousands of residents, and create some joy and community along the way.
Provided Vaccines to 177 Neighbors.
In November, we welcomed over 250 community members to our second annual Fall Family Health Fair. We connected attendees with 30 community-based health organizations and family support resources. And we administered 177 free Covid-19 vaccines and flu shots.
Connected With 4 Local Senior Facilities.
This past spring, I had the pleasure of hosting bingo games for seniors at four low-income assisted living facilities across our district: Campbell Terrace, Senior Suites of Kelvyn Park, Renaissance West and Belmont Village. This provided seniors with community, legislative updates, free lunches, and several exhilarating games of Bingo with prizes.
We Passed a Historic Affordable Housing Bill.
In May, we passed a historic affordable housing bill that we call an “omnibus.” This huge bill was signed by the Governor in July and creates new property tax incentives for the development and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing.
We Passed a Bill to Reduce Accidental Overdoses.
In July, we passed landmark legislation legalizing fentanyl test strips for distribution at hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. Fentanyl is a highly deadly synthetic opioid, and these strips will help enable young people who might be experimenting with different substances to make sure that they’re not accidentally taking fentanyl too.
Secured $150 Million for Affordable Housing.
As the chair of the Housing Committee, I’m proud to have secured an investment of $150 million in subsidies for new affordable rental units in the state budget. This is going to help build thousands of apartments across the state with rents guaranteed to be affordable for at least the next 30 years.
We Distributed Over 700 Backpacks.
At our annual Back to School Fair in August, we distributed over 700 backpacks and school supplies to families across the Northwest Side - thanks to the support of generous donors and nonprofits across the district including our co-hosts Senator Pacione - Zayas and the Kelvyn Park Advisory Council.
Helped 80 Immigrant Community Members Sign-up for Medicaid.
Thanks to Illinois’s new Medicaid expansion, which lowered the age of eligibility for Medicaid to 42, regardless of immigration status, we were able to partner with other Northwest Side elected officials to host a Medicaid Enrollment Fair - where we helped 80 community members with varying immigration statuses sign-up for Medicaid.
Celebrated the 16th Annual Midnight Circus.
In October I attended the 16th Annual Midnight Circus performance at Koz Park. Over 100 families were in attendance for an amazing acrobatic performance, and I got to talk to them about ways to stay connected with their local parks.
Created Waivers for Students Experiencing Homeless.
During the spring session, I passed a bill that prohibits charter schools from charging fees to students experiencing homelessness. It works to prevent discrimination against students who can’t afford to purchase textbooks or field trips. This bill ensures they’re able to participate in all school activities.
We Made Information More Accessible for People in Prison.
In March, I passed a new law that will give incarcerated people access to their records from their stay in the Department of Corrections, which had previously been denied to them. Now that this has been signed into law, those who are incarcerated in Illinois and their attorneys can access critical documents needed to draft legal cases and petitions for clemency.
There’s still a lot of work to do on our road towards equity in Illinois, and I hope to have your input and support as we continue to move forward next year. What does your vision for Illinois look like? Click here to share your thoughts and read about the policy priorities I’ll be working on in the 2023 legislative session
Thank you for reading and being part of this community!
Be well and stay warm —
Will
TODAY: MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE ON FACEBOOK LIVE
If you're behind on housing costs due to covid-19 you may be eligible for up to $60,000 in emergency mortgage assistance!
Join me and the Spanish Coalition TODAY at 4pm for a Facebook Live to learn about the Illinois' Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) and how you and your family can apply for relief.
RETIREMENT SAVINGS SEMINAR
Do you want to learn about saving for retirement? Attend our virtual Secure Choice Retirement Savings Seminar this tomorrow, December 20th at noon!
Illinois Secure Choice is a state retirement program that makes it easy for anyone to save for retirement. Since it launched in 2018, the program has brought retirement savings access to workers all across Illinois.
FORTS - Build Your Own Adventure
Enter a world of play and creation as Filament Theatre transforms into an interactive playspace for children and parents to build new worlds. Using cardboard boxes, sheets, clotheslines and more, families build adventures of their own devising. With theatrical design elements of sound and lights working together to support creative play, families are swept away in the adventure.