Chicago Residents Utilize Technology For City Services


Chicago Let’s Residents Text, Upload and Email Requests for City Services

The City of Chicago is using digital technology 24 hours a day to help streamline the process for reporting problems like potholes, graffiti and street light repair.

Residents can text in a problem, email and call to make a service request, or if they see a problem like a pothole in the street, residents can take a picture on the spot and upload it onto the city’s 311 system.

The information is then tracked through the 311 Service Tracker system which allows residents to track their requests. The process covers all city services including the ones listed on this page.

For a complete listing of city services or to submit a service request, visit www.cityofchicago.org or call 3-1-1 for help.

Graffiti Removal

The City of Chicago’s Graffiti Blasters employs 13

“blast” trucks that use baking soda under high water

pressure to erase painted graffiti from brick, stone

and other mineral surfaces. They also use 14 paint

trucks to cover graffiti on the remaining surfaces.

Most requests for Graffiti Removal are addressed in

14 days or less.

Emergency Food Assistance

Although the Chicago Department of Family and

Support (DFSS) no longer provides food boxes at

its Community Service Centers, food assistance

is now available at food pantries. Visit www.

chicagosfoodbank.org or www.direct2food.org to

find a local food pantry in your area. To speak with

a case worker at one of DFSS’s Community Service

Centers, you can call 3-1-1 to be directed to the

nearest center.

Street Light Repair

Residents can report street or alley light outages

in neighborhoods. Street lights are always located

on metal poles. Alley lights are located on wooden

poles. Most ‘Street Light Out’ requests are addressed

in 10 days or less.

Alley Light Out

One or more alley lights out, on a wooden pole in the

alley itself, are reported under this service request

type. Important information needed when reporting

alley lights out includes: the exact address that the

light/lights are behind, how many lights are out, and

if the light(s) are completely out or if they blink on

and off intermittently. Alley light repairs are done

during the day when the lights are not on, so this information

is essential to expedite the repair work. ‘Most Alley Light Out’

requests are addressed in 30 days or less.

Potholes/Alley Potholes

Report Potholes and alley potholes to the city. An

alley pothole is usually irregular in shape and is in the

surface of the alley. The city requires that residents

provide a description of the location where the

pothole can be found and an address in order to

process the request. If you need to report a utility cut

(usually a square cut for water or sewer repairs) or a

sinkhole (usually a dip in the pavement or a void) the

city advises calling 311 directly.

Senior Well Being Check

This service request is used to identify seniors whose

health, safety or general well- being are in question.

The City will send a team of Human Services

specialists to make an assessment of the person’s

needs. Follow-up services can be identified and

provided as needed. For more information on this

program, call 312.744-4016

Building Violations/Abandoned Vehicles

City of Chicago uses the Chicago Building Code to enforce

building code violations. Most Building Violation

requests are addressed in 30 days or less. Abandoned

vehicles are another eyesore in communities. The

city uses this service to eliminate the number of

abandoned cars in the city by taking them to the

auto pound 3S or 3N where they are sold for scrap if

not redeemed by the owners. For more information,

contact 3-1-1 or visit www.cityofchicago.org.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

STARR Community Services International, Inc.