COVID-19 FACT SHEET & INFORMATION

Access Living Lugenia Burns Hope Center Metropolitan Tenants Organization Neighbors for Affordable Housing on the NW Side Pilsen Alliance Organizing Neighborhoods for Equality: Northside People for Community Recovery Southside Together Organizing for Power

To Supporters:

The Chicago Housing Initiative is a citywide coalition of housing advocacy organizations composed of Chicagoans who have homes, without homes and at risk of homelessness. Aldermen Chris Taliaferro -29th Ward and Walter Burnett- 27th Ward have introduced the Public Health and Housing COVID-19 Emergency Ordinance (PHO) to move medically-vulnerable individuals and families from congregate living facilities, which have been rendered unsafe by the coronavirus pandemic into 1,250 vacant Chicago

Housing Authority public housing units as identified via FOIA - CHA records request. The ordinance requires that entities receiving City Council funding both meet the national standard of a 97% occupancy rate for their affordable housing stock and to maintain an average 60-day vacant unit turn-around time to re-lease a subsidized apartment after someone moves out.

We are asking your organization to sign-on to this letter and in doing so commit to doing three of the six supporting actions.

· Sign on to support the Public Health and Housing COVID-19 Emergency Ordinance (PHO)

· Educate the public and our members on COVID-19.

· Appearing alongside us at media events and being willing to add your expertise to issue.

· Lend your name to materials and actions attached to the campaign.

· Be willing to attend occasional strategy meetings.

· Be willing to participate in actions attached to the campaign.

COVIVD-19 FACT SHEET

It is from the same family of viruses that cause SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) - It is not a “Chinese” virus.

It is NOT like the flu - it is more contagious and you can STILL spread the virus and not have any symptoms.

The rate of infection and deaths has continued steadily. Just because the economy is reopening does NOT mean there is a decreased number of cases because the virus has NOT gone away.

Younger people are getting the virus and some are dying from lung problems and stroke. The most common signs and symptoms that linger over time include: Chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, persistent cough and finally both joint and chest pain.

People are still dying from Covid-19, especially black/ brown communities, the elderly population, frontline workers, those in congregate settings including the carceral system, homeless and nursing homes.

There is NO preventative vaccine for Covid-19 yet and though testing is available. The results are not 100% accurate. If you have symptoms with a negative test, continue to isolate for 2 weeks.

Do NOT take any medications for Covid-19 (like hydroxychloroquine or “Plaquenil”) without speaking to your doctor first.

Social distancing slows the spread of Covid-19. Relaxing local restrictions does not mean we don’t have to worry about COVID-19. When going out in public, wear a mask and stay at least 6-feet away from others.

There are many conspiracy theories out there. Please talk to your doctor or visit a trusted source of information: http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus