Harris encourages high school graduates to apply for the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation Scholarship

DOLTON – To help students who are seeking post-secondary education, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) is encouraging high school graduates to apply for the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation (ILBCF) Scholarship. 

“Many of our student’s families are not able to pay for college,” Harris said. “College is costly, so students should take advantage of this scholarship, especially since many have extra time on their hands right now.” 

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Harris pleased Illinois dentists will be able to practice again

DOLTON – State Senator Napoleon Harris, III (D-Harvey) is pleased to learn the Illinois Department of Public Health has updated its guidance on allowing dental providers to resume routine oral and dental care beginning this week.

“Being on a Stay At Home Order for nearly two months may have resulted in many people needing oral care,” Harris said. “IDPH allowing dentist’s office to reopen for routine care is a step forward and shows understanding that oral treatment is an essential service.”  

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Village of Phoenix awarded $360,000 to assist with home repairs

DOLTON — The Village of Phoenix was awarded a total of $360,000 to help area homeowners with repairs, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III announced Friday.

“Sometimes families have to postpone repairs on their homes to pay for food and medicine, and the home’s value goes down due to the condition,” Harris said. “These living situations are often not a matter of choice, that no family should bear, with or without a crisis.”

The Illinois Housing Development Authority Board of Directors awarded the Village of Phoenix to help low- and very low-income homeowners with necessary home repairs. The group awarded $11,000,000 statewide through the state’s Single-Family Rehabilitation Program. The lump-sum is projected to help at least 326 families. 

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Unemployment Benefits

Workers at traditional businesses

On April 6, the Illinois Department of Employment Security began disbursing Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) funds, which was the first week that payments were allowed by the federal government. FPUC provides an additional $600 each week in 100% federally funded benefits to anyone entitled to regular state unemployment benefits. FPUC benefits are available for weeks beginning on or after March 29, 2020 and continuing through the week ending July 25, 2020. Pursuant to federal legislation, this $600 will not be retroactively applied to unemployment claims that arose prior to March 29, 2020.

Those who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits of up to 26 weeks are now eligible for an additional 13 weeks’ worth of 100% federally funded benefits called Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). IDES received guidelines from the U.S. Department of Labor on April 10 and expects to have the program fully implemented the week of April 20.

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