With millions of people in Illinois unemployed, under lockdown and caring for loved ones, we’ve developed a list of local resources to help you through the COVID-19 crisis. We’ll check back regularly and update as we find out about more resources. If you know of any we’ve missed, (including in the suburbs), please let us know.
Whether you need food, legal aid or financial relief, we hope this helps.
Latest Information
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Chicago Department of Health. COVID-19: What to do if you’re sick – in English, Spanish, Polish
- Chicago Health’s COVID-19 coverage
- City of Chicago Coronavirus Response Center
- Illinois Department of Public Health, hotline: 1-800-889-3931 (does not assist with testing)
- Illinois Disaster Response Volunteer Opportunities
- State of Illinois Coronavirus Response
- World Health Organization
Childcare
Employment/Unemployment
- City of Chicago Paid Sick Leave Ordinance
- COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits – Illinois
- Facebook’s Small Business Grants Program
- Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance
- Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Loans
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – Illinois
Families
- Chicago Community Service Center Locations
- Chicago Healthy Adolescents and Teens
- COVID-19 Resources for Undocumented People
- Domestic Violence Agencies by City – Illinois Department of Human Services
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
Food
The Greater Chicago Food Depository has a searchable list of food pantries, based on your address. To find a food bank near you, visit its Find Food map. Some food pantries are listed below, but there check with Greater Chicago Food Depository to find one near you.
- Affordable Produce – Forty Acres Fresh Market
- Brave Space Alliance Crisis Food Pantry
- Centro Comunitario Juan Diego
- Chicago Public Schools Meal Sites
- Greater Chicago Food Depository
- Hyde Park Kenwood Food Pantry
- The Joined Hands Food Pantry
- Lakeview Pantry
- Pilsen Food Pantry
- SNAP Food Aid
- St. Paul and the Redeemer Food Pantry
- Southeast Side of Chicago Food Pantry
- Urban Growers Collective Community Garden Space
- Women, Infants, and Children
General Support and Assistance
Housing
- CDPH Guidance for Homeless Shelters
- Emergency Rental Assistance
- Homeless Shelter Directory
- Su Casa Catholic Worker Community
- Tenants United of Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore
Incarcerated People
Legal Aid
Medical
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
- Healthcare Clinics for Immigrants and Refugees
- Heartland Health Centers
Mental Health
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
- Calll4Calm – Text “TALK” (or “HABLAR” for counseling in Spanish) to 552-020
- Crisis Text Line
- Disaster Distress Helpline
- Headspace Free Membership for Healthcare Professionals
- Guidance for People Who Use Drugs
- NAMI Chicago Helpline
- Talkspace Free Therapy for Healthcare Workers
Neighborhood-Based Response
- Albany Park/Avondale, 33rd Ward
- Andersonville/Bowmanville
- Bucktown
- Chicago-wide Mutual Aid Volunteer Sign Up
- Edgewater
- Englewood
- Garfield Park/Austin/North Lawndale/West Loop
- Hermosa
- Hyde Park
- Lincoln Square
- Little Village
- Logan Square Mutual Aid
- Logan Square Sharing is Caring
- McKinley Park
- Pilsen
- Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce
- Ravenswood Mutual Aid
- Rogers Park Community Response Team
- Rogers Park/West Ridge Mutual Aid
People with Disabilities
Relief Funds
- Artists of Color Emergency Grants
- Bartender Emergency Assistance Program
- Chicago Artists Relief Fund
- Chicago Hospitality Employee Relief Guide
- Chicago Service Relief
- Interest-Free Loans for Chicagoans
- National Domestic Workers Alliance
- Tipped Workers Emergency Fund
- Trans Relief Fund
Seniors
- Alzheimer’s Association Tips
- Benefits CheckUp
- My Block My Hood My City – Senior Response
- Senior Transportation Programs
Transit
Utilities
An award-winning journalist, Katie has written for Chicago Health since 2016 and currently serves as Editor-in-Chief.
