Nearly two years have passed since widespread flooding devastated homes across the West Side.
But many homeowners are still living with damaged basements, unable to pay to remove hazardous mold that can cause health problems. The struggles are worse for senior citizens on fixed incomes who can’t foot the expensive repair bills.
“We don’t have the money to do it,” said Cynthia White, 71.
Her West Side two-flat flooded in July 2023. It was the first time it ever flooded in the 55 years she’s lived there. Almost two years on, there’s still mold in the basement, where her sister sleeps.
“It’s very dangerous — the mold,” she says. “There’s so many people like us.”
She was among about two dozen senior citizens who gathered Monday at the Columbus Park Refectory, where local advocate Princess Shaw helped guide them about aid available from the city and federal government.
Shaw, 43, said she has been helping people with flood damage since the storm hit July 3, 2023, leading to more than 12,000 reports of flooded basements. First she helped people through the process as part of the West Side Long Term Recovery Group, created after the flooding. Now she volunteers her time to guide seniors through the red tape.
“It’s been one headache after another,” Shaw said.
After the meeting Monday, Shaw sat down with several seniors to guide them through filling out applications to receive some of the $5 million the city has set aside for flood relief.
She said the initial payouts from the FEMA program were not enough, averaging around $3,000 to $4,000. She shared news that FEMA has allocated an additional $426 million for victims of the 2023 and 2024 floods in and around Chicago.
For now, Shaw is directing people to fill out the 2024 Flood Assistance Repair Program Application, which is administered by the Chicago Department of Housing.
Shaw said she has helped more than 100 people complete the application for the city program. She said 19 homeowners she helped have had the city clear their basements of mold.
Diane O’Quinn is waiting to learn if her application with the city has been accepted.
O’Quinn said she paid $8,000 to fix the flooded basement of her Austin home. But she is still dealing with mold and needs additional work done that she can’t afford.
“It’s dangerous to us,” the 72-year-old said of the mold. “I have a cold all the time.”
Cassandra Humphrey, 60, said she continues to be sick from the mold in her home near Lavergne Avenue and Augusta Boulevard, where she sleeps in the basement. She said an estimate to fix that damage was more than $20,000.
“I’m just stuck,” she said.
Shaw said she plans to bring a group of seniors to the Chicago City Council’s May meeting to raise awareness of their struggles.