General Resources
Provides updated information on cases, steps to prepare and prevent spread, resources from the CDC, economic resources, and FAQs.
General City Information
Financial
Illinois Department of Employment Security: 1-800-244-5631
Individuals can apply for unemployment due to COVID-19.
Bartenders, barbacks and cocktail servers in need of support can apply for the United States Bartender Guild’s National Charity Foundation. The organization is offering emergency grants for bartenders. You do not need to be a member to apply.
Emergency Rental Assistance
Financial assistance to individuals facing eviction and at risk of experiencing homelessness (can only help with rent, not security deposits).
Applications must be in person
- Englewood Center, 1140 W. 79th Street, Chicago, IL 60620, 312-747-0200
- Garfield Center, 10 S. Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-746-5400
- King Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, IL 60653, 312-747-2300
- North Area, 845 W. Wilson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640, 312- 744-2580
- South Chicago, 8650 S. Commercial Avenue, Chicago, IL 60617, 312-747-0500
- Trina Davila, 4312 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639, 312-744-2014
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Multilingual, multicultural, information referral, safety planning for dating and domestic violence survivors or anyone concerned about a survivor. Offers linkage to open domestic violence shelters and housing options.
Benefits Outreach Team (Chicago Food Bank): 773-843-5416
Free confidential hotline that assists with applying for/currently have SNAP and Medicaid. Provides referrals to other public benefits. Available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5pm.
Shelters/Housing
Contact 311 to learn about openings in local shelters and apply for emergency rental assistance. 311 can coordinate transportation to shelter services which may require going to another location, such as a police station or hospital.
Food
Chicago Public Schools: 773-533-KIDS (5437) (emergency delivery)
Provides free meals for families from 9am-1pm Monday through Friday throughout closure. Chicago Public Schools Families can pick up free food boxes at any CPS school. Boxes contain three days’ worth of breakfast and lunch for every student in the household. Food-pick up is held outdoors.
Lakeview Pantry: 773-525-1777
Offers food market locations in Lakeview, Humboldt Park, and Ravenswood neighborhoods.
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Enter an address/zip code to find nearby food pantries, soup kitchens, and mobile food distribution. With a few exceptions, The Greater Chicago Food Depository and their network of 700 partner agencies and programs remains open. They recommend calling before you go to confirm program hours and requirements: (773) 247-3663.
Catholic Charities Chicago Casa Catalina at 47th and Ashland
- Hosting a food pantry on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
- First-come, first-served.
Western Suburban Community Pantry
Mobile food pantry serving the following areas:
- WIllowbrook
- Bolingbrook
- Romeoville
Tinley Park Food Pantry
- 6875 173rd PL 60477
- (708) 614-7739
- Serves Tinley Park and Orland Hills
More Food Pantries
Catholic Charities Daybreak Center in Joliet
- 611 E Cass St, Joliet
- Shepherd’s Table – Free bagged lunches to pick up outside the door
- 3-20-20: St. Joseph Parish, 211 N. Center Ave., Bradley 10–11:30am
- 3-26-20: St. Mary Immaculate, 16529 IL Rte. 59, Plainfield 5–6:30pm
- 3-27-20: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 205 E. Jackson St., Joliet 10-11:30am
Additional Food Resources to be aware of
Stores with Special Senior Hours
- Whole Foods, Every day, 8-9am: “seniors 60+”
- Mariano’s, Every day, 6-8am: “those most at-risk”
- Target, Every day, 8-9am: “seniors & those with underlying health issues”
- Dollar General, Every day, 8-9am: “dedicated to our senior shoppers”
- Jewel-Osco, Tu/Th, 7-9am: “seniors, pregnant women & immunocompromised”
- Walmart, Tuesdays, 6-7am: “seniors 60+”
More information from NBC
Grocery Delivery
Find restaurants in the Chicago area are open for take-out, curbside pick-up, or delivery during the lockdown of Chicago’s restaurants and bars during COVID-19:
Elderly (65+)
Meals on Wheels
- Delivers food and sanitary supplies to seniors
- Delivers meals for homebound older persons (60 or older)
Employment
Unemployment benefits are available to those whose hours have been reduced or who have lost their job due to coronavirus (COVID-19) measures. Individuals who must stay home because of a government-recommended quarantine are eligible for unemployment benefits. Those who have a COVID-19 diagnosis or must stay at home with someone with a COVID-19 diagnosis are also eligible. To file for unemployment on line visit Illinois.gov.
Know Your Responsibilities and Ask for Help.
If you have questions, please visit an IDES office or call (800) 244-5631
YWCA Metro Chicago: The Workforce Team will be also available to link you to employment opportunities. Please contact us at jobs@ywcachicago.org
Services
Childcare
- For Chicago Early Learning Centers operating in a Chicago Public School setting are suspended for two weeks starting 3/16/2020. The Chicago Department of Family & Support Services (DFSS) said that funding will remain available for all early learning and childcare agencies while their operations are temporarily interrupted
Education
- Internet Access: Free access to Spectrum Broadband and Wi-Fi for 60 Days For New K-12 and College Student Households
- Books: Free access to L’il Libros worksheets for kids
- PBS: Starting Monday, March 16, students in Pre-K through 12th grade will have the opportunity to access free, educational PBS daytime programming designated for each grade level weekdays
- Math programs: MIND Research Institute is offering no cost access to a free math instructional program for students in grades K-8
- Books and online learning experiences: Scholastic offers free, online learning experiences for kids of all ages.
Other Online Educational Resources
Community Resources & Sharing
The Chicago COVID-19 Hardship and Help page was created by community organizers to offer a simple way for people in the Chicago area to ask others for assistance.
Housing
Rental Assistance
The rental assistance program provides financial assistance to Chicago residents, directly related to the prevention of homelessness, to eligible individuals and families. For more information visit Chicago.gov.
Chicago residents can apply at one of the 6 Community Service Centers locations:
- Englewood Center, 1140 W. 79th Street, Chicago, IL 60620, 312-747-0200
- Garfield Center, 10 S. Kedzie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-746-5400
- King Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, IL 60653, 312-747-2300
- North Area, 845 W. Wilson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640, 312- 744-2580
- South Chicago, 8650 S. Commercial Avenue, Chicago, IL 60617, 312-747-0500
- Trina Davila, 4312 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60639, 312-744-2014
Utilities
Family Services
- Food pantries and social services have not been interrupted
- Counseling and case management are being held remotely
- Home care services for the elderly and disabled have not been suspended
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet
- Serves DuPage, Will, Kankakee, Ford, Grundy, Iroquois, Kendall counties
- (Very) limited financial assistance for basic needs and for immigration fees that go to US Dept. of Homeland Security (DACA renewal, naturalization, green card, etc.)
- Provides referrals and education for other services and information about immigration
- Contact Laura Bohorquez, 630-519-6533
- Catholic Charities of Lake Country: (847) 782-4000
Health
- Offers up to date alerts regarding outpatient healthcare facilities and hospitals treating COVID-19 patients
- Other healthcare resources and updates
Access DuPage
- Connects low income and uninsured DuPage County Residents to affordable health services. To be eligible for Access DuPage, you must:
- Be a permanent DuPage County resident for at least 60 days (this means that you live or intend to live in DuPage County year-round)
- Be over the age of 19
- Have a household income at or below 200% of the current federal poverty guidelines
- Not be eligible for health care programs such as (Medicaid, Medicare, employer-sponsored insurance, student health services, COBRA, SSI, Family Care, Veterans Benefits, etc.)
The Health Department is the only place that is currently (as of 3/18/20) accepting applications, and they are being done over the phone. Call 630-682-7400 to set up an application appointment. The organization is working to provide orientations online. We are also extending the cards of those who were set to expire in March/April (may be extended depending on this situation)
Offers qualifying uninsured patients’ certain medications at no cost. The Dispensary of Hope is open. Please check the website to see the formulary and bring a valid prescription
Mental Health
- The National Alliance of Mental Illness has issued a Resources and Information Guide for COVID-19. For more details, visit NAMI.org.
- SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline (800) 985-5990
- NAMI general Helpline (800) 950-NAMI (6264) Monday through Friday between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm EST for mental health resources.
Economic Assistance
- One Fair Wage is providing economic assistance for tipped and service workers
- United Way Covid-19 Economic Relief Fund: (866) 211-9966. Call for assistance with bills, rent, and food.
