Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced a series of service fairs that will connect residents in neighborhoods across the City with the wide variety of City resources available to Chicago residents. Following the success of the City’s first-ever service fairs that launched in March and ran through the summer, a number of City departments and sister agencies will again connect residents with a number of city initiatives designed to provide residents with services of the greatest need and demand in their community.

“The city of Chicago will only be as strong as our neighborhoods, which is why we are focused on empowering every resident with opportunities that will allow them to succeed and our neighborhoods to grow even stronger,” Mayor Emanuel said. “From expanding quality educational programs to increasing neighborhood economic development opportunities—together we are paving the way for stronger communities. These events provide our residents another direct opportunity to access the programs we’ve created to help Chicagoans succeed and empower our communities together.”

The fairs are designed to bring important services and resources directly to neighborhoods to empower residents while strengthening and revitalizing neighborhoods throughout Chicago. The first-ever Chicago Resident Service Fairs engaged nearly 2,000 residents in direct services across the five locations.

At each of the five regional fairs beginning this weekend, more than 40 City agencies will be onsite available to offer services and resources and available to provide services on the spot – everything from talking to lenders about home loans, access income tax guidance, financial advice, learn about job opportunities and job skills training, health screenings and much more.
Beginning this weekend, City agencies will again offer residents assistance on programs designed to support them in attaining home ownership, rental assistance, heating assistance, income tax preparation assistance, and jobs or employment readiness training. These include signature initiatives by the administration, such as: the Homebuyer Assistance program, which offers residents down payment assistance on a new home, or the Large Lots Program, which enables homeowners, block-clubs and non-profit groups to apply to purchase vacant city-owned land for $1, as well as the One Summer Chicago, the largest summer youth program where youth can register for summer programs.
New at this round of fairs, City officials will be on hand to help with connection to services critical during the winter and spring months, including flu shots, health tips, vaccines, 311 requests, and specialized supports for elderly and disabled.

Residents will also have an opportunity to attend a handful of workshops on topics like the homebuyer assistance program, employment search assistance and personal finances. Presentations focusing on new public safety initiatives to bridge relationships with the community—through CAPS Community Safety and other initiatives—will be shared, as will presentations by city and delegate agencies delivering mentoring and other youth initiatives to help keep children engaged both in and out of school time.
The five Chicago Resident Service Fairs will run from 10 am to 2 pm on scheduled dates and locations listed below. For more information please visit www.cityofchicago.org/servicefairs or call 311.

Saturday, November 19, 2016
Wells High School
936 N Ashland Ave

Saturday, December 3, 2016
Orr High School
730 N Pulaski Rd

Saturday, January 26, 2017
Orr High School
730 N Pulaski Rd

Saturday, February 25, 2017
Kelly High School
4136 S. California, Ave.

March 11, 2017
Olive Harvey College
10001 S Woodlawn Ave.

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