CHICAGO — Nearly 10 months after flooding left devastating damage on the West Side, some residents are still dealing with the aftermath, and one non-profit organization was out and about looking for volunteers to help the elderly still dealing with those problems.
“Many of these survivors are older,” said Princess Shaw, chairwoman of the West Side Long Term Recovery Group. “Trying to navigate the systems is overwhelming for them.”
The organization said they’re partnering with the national non-profit SBP and offering a free program to help homeowners appeal decisions for financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
FEMA has awarded more than $300 million in aid to Cook County residents for recovery from last year’s July and September storms that caused widespread damage, primarily from flooding.
SBP said overall, most claims submitted by disaster survivors are denied, or the assistance is not enough. But few people may know they can still appeal.
“People are getting anywhere,” Shaw said. “That appeal process is lengthy.”
Saturday, Shaw and the WSLTRG team were at the office of Ald. Emma Mitts (37th Ward) to attract volunteers to assist in helping residents with appeals.
“This is going to be good for our community,” Mitts said. “[To] know you’re not forgotten.”
Mitts said she expects the mayor’s $1.25-billion bond plan for housing and economic development passed by city council this week will send more money to help the West Side recover after decades of disinvestment.
And she said homeowners who missed the deadline to even apply for FEMA funds should still reach out to her office for resources.
“There’s [still] opportunities to get some help,” Mitts said.
For more information on the WSLTRG, visit their website online: https://www.westsideltrg.com/
