CHICAGO – State Senator Javier Cervantes is encouraging Cook County residents and businesses who have been impacted by recent flooding and tornados to apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance.

“As soon as trouble started, we worked with local officials and got the ball rolling for federal disaster relief for our area,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “It’s vital in these situations to act fast and get resources to families so our communities can begin to rebuild and regain stability.”

The FEMA Disaster Assistance program offers temporary emergency housing, funding for damage-related home repairs, assistance with medical, dental, personal property, and transportation expenses, and disaster-related moving and storage expenses. The program can also make accommodations for language or disability barriers.

To apply for the FEMA Disaster Assistance program, Cook County residents and businesses can either call 800-621-3362 or visit DisasterAssistance.gov.

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are also available. Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair disaster-damaged or destroyed property. Homeowners can receive disaster loans up to $500,000 to repair or replace real estate, and up to $100,000 is available to repair or replace personal property. Applications are available at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov or by calling 800-659-2955.

CHICAGO – With strong support from State Senator Javier Cervantes, $263,824 in state literacy grants will be coming to four local educational agencies in the 1^st Senate District.

“Family and community literacy programs equip parents and their children with a foundation that supports them throughout their lives and careers,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “Developing these important skills empowers people to contribute and engage fully with their families, their work and their communities.”

Adult Literacy Grant Programs are administered by the Illinois Secretary of State and are divided into three categories: Adult Volunteer Literacy, Penny Severns Family Literacy and Workplace Skills Enhancement. The programs enable educational organizations to help adults improve their reading, writing, math or use of English as a new language.

The following community organizations and schools in the 1^st District received Adult Literacy Grant awards:

• Arab American Action Network – $50,000
• Hanul Family Alliance – $48,824
• PODER Learning Center – $80,000
• Morton College – $85,000

More information about the Secretary of State’s Adult Literacy Grant Programs can be found here.

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SPRINGFIELD – Students will soon see scholarship opportunities in Illinois’ growing technology sector thanks to a new scholarship incentive program championed by State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes.

“From the moment they start higher education, students will have a pathway to good-paying technology jobs, with employers ready to hire them when they graduate,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “The growing tech sector in Illinois needs skilled employees and the iGROW program establishes a pipeline for students to grow and live their life here in Illinois.”

Cervantes’ measure creates the iGROW Tech Scholarship program to award scholarships to public and private university students working toward qualifying tech-related degrees such as computer and information sciences, information technology, computer systems networking and telecommunications. Recipients would receive the scholarship award each year they agree to work in a qualified job that relates to their degree.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Javier Cervantes’ initiative to expand personal care provider eligibility to include a person’s guardian, kin or siblings was signed into law Friday.

“Illinois residents have been pushing for personal care provider qualifications to include family members for a long time,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “This law will ensure that family members can assist loved ones without hurting their eligibility for benefits.”

Currently, a recipient’s spouse is the only eligible family member who can contract with the Department of Rehabilitation Services to serve as a personal assistant to a person with a disability, and that individual may not have more than $10,000 in assets in order to be eligible. People who need home-based services can hire their own personal assistants to provide care in their home, based on their DRS service plan, but have not been able to hire and pay family members besides their spouse.

The new law allows guardians, kin and siblings to serve as personal assistants for their family member with a disability. They can provide services such as personal assistance, home-delivered meals, adult day care, respite care, home health services and supported employment services. Under Cervantes’ law, any wages earned by the employee will not count against the $10,000 asset limit required for disabled individuals to be eligible for the program.

“This law ensures that residents in need of home care get the help they need,” Cervantes said. “Families in our state are trying to navigate how to best take care of their loved ones, and this law tackles workforce shortages and lets families provide care in their own homes.”

Senate Bill 505 was signed into law Friday and takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.