More than 200 neighbors opened their hearts and wallets to contribute almost $20,000 to help the seven families who were displaced from their homes in the aftermath of the fire at Estes and Paulina.
While thankfully no one was injured in the Jan. 11 fire, 35 people in seven families lost their homes and most of their possessions. While families received immediate emergency assistance from the American Red Cross of Chicago, we were advised that one of the most significant challenges facing these families would be the considerable expense of securing and moving into new housing.
To that end, my office and Northside Community Resources (NCR), together with the Rogers Park Builders Group, the Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago, and RefugeeOne, set a goal of collecting $16,000 to assist with moving expenses, security deposits, application fees, and the first month’s rent.
Thanks to your generous contributions, we far surpassed our goals, netting $19,710, or $563 per household member, in just two weeks. The funds have now been disbursed and families are settling into their new apartments.
Thank you to all those who contributed, and a big thanks to NCR for serving as the pro bono fiscal agent for this endeavor, in addition to the untold hours in case management.
Sincerely,
Joe Moore