[ad_1]
(WTTW News)
Some Chicago public school students and families will be eligible for $ 500 “micro-grants” from the city to help cover education and living costs, officials said.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Acting Chicago Public Schools CEO Jose Torres on Thursday unveiled a new Chicago Families Forward Fund, which they say will distribute more than $ 9 million in aid to CPS families before the end of the fall semester.
“Throughout this pandemic, our students and their families have gone through a number of traumas, including the loss of jobs, housing and even the loss of loved ones,” Lightfoot said in a statement. “The Chicago Families Forward Fund will be a significant next step in our city-wide mission to address these traumas and will further enable us to provide residents of all ages with the resources they need to thrive.”
The fund will use the dollars of the CARES Act and will be jointly administered by the city, the SCP and the Kids First Fund.
According to the city, students in temporary housing, known as STLS, will be eligible to receive a one-time check for $ 500 that can be picked up at their school. Families with more than one eligible student may receive an equal number of scholarships.
Officials say 98% of CPS students who are affected by homelessness are children of color. The purpose of these grants, according to city officials, is to help students and their families face any financial challenges while allowing them to re-engage with their schools and communities.
“STLS students and families have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and providing them with additional financial assistance will go a long way to helping them access the additional support they need,” Torres said in a statement.
Eligible families can apply for an online grant at www.cps.edu/FamiliesForwardFund by October 1 at the latest or withdraw a paper registration form from their child’s school.
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
[ad_2]
Source link