Economic Relief | Chicago's 49th Ward

Economic Relief Resources

Click each tab below to explore and learn more about programs that can provide some financial relief to eligible households. Not finding what you're looking for? You can also visit 211metrochicago.org or dial 2-1-1 to connect with a variety of resources. 2-1-1 is an information and referral resource, helping connect people to food, housing, utility payment assistance, health care, transportation, childcare, employment, mental health, disaster information and assistance, and more

Food & Nutrition

A Just Harvest

Located at 7649 N. Paulina Street in the 49th Ward, A Just Harvest offers a community meal to go daily between 12-2 pm. They also host a food pantry every Wednesday between 3-5 pm. For more information, visit their website.

Care For Real

Care for Real distributes free, fresh, nutritious food to neighbors in Rogers Park every Thursday from 3-6 pm at the United Church of Rogers Park located at 1545 W. Morse. For more information, visit Care For Real's website.

Ignatian Mission Center

Located at 1735 W. Greenleaf, the Ignatian Mission Center's food pantry is open Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and midday Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone who lives in the area bounded by Granville Avenue on the south, Howard Street on the north, Lake Michigan on the east and Western Avenue on the west can receive food from the pantry once a month, as long as they meet income levels. For more information, click here.

Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP/LINK Cards help individuals and families purchase groceries. By providing money for groceries, SNAP frees up household income for other necessities, like medicine or utilities.

In Illinois, the SNAP/LINK Card Program is overseen by the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS). There are eligibility requirements for income, employment, and citizenship.

You can apply in person, over the phone, or online. For more information, visit wegotyouillinois.org/snap.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children - better known as the WIC program - serves to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating including breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care. You can learn more and access the pre-screening tool found here to determine your eligibility.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program(CACFP)

CACFP partially reimburses participating agencies providing healthy meals and snacks at Adult Day Service Centers under the Community Care Program.

For more information about the CACFP program, visit the website here or contact:

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

One Natural Resources Way, #100

Springfield, IL 62702-1271

Phone: (217) 782-2407 or 1-800-252-8966

Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Program

These services include both home-delivered meals (such as Meals on Wheels) and healthy meals served in group settings, such as senior centers and faith-based locations. In addition, the programs provide a range of services including nutrition screening, assessment, education, and counseling. Nutrition services also provide an important link to other supportive in-home and community-based supports such as homemaker and home-health aide services, transportation, physical activity and chronic disease self-management programs, home repair and modification, and falls prevention programs. More information on this program can be found here. Your local nutrition site can be found using the website and you can also call 1-800-677-1116.

Health Care

Get Covered Illinois

In 2026, Illinois moved from HealthCare.gov to a state-based marketplace. This marketplace allows Illinois residents to compare health plans, enroll in a plan, and get financial help to lower the monthly costs of coverage. To learn more, visit getcovered.illinois.gov.

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Medicaid

Medicaid is a jointly funded state and Federal government program that pays for medical assistance services. Medicaid pays for medical assistance for eligible children, parents, and caretakers of children, pregnant women, persons who are disabled, blind, or 65 years of age or older, those who were formerly in foster care services, and adults aged 19-64 who are not receiving Medicare coverage and who are not the parent or caretaker relative of a minor child. You can discover if you are eligible here. For information on Illinois Medicaid, visit the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services website here.

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 or older, people under the age of 65 with certain disabilities, people of any age with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). More information about Medicare in Illinois can be found here.

In order to apply for Medicare benefits, plan participants are instructed to contact their local SSA office or call 1-800-772-1213. Plan participants may also sign up for Medicare Part A via the SSA website at www.socialsecurity.gov. To ensure that benefits are coordinated appropriately and to prevent financial liabilities with healthcare claims, plan participants must notify the State of Illinois CMS Medicare COB Unit when they become eligible for Medicare. The Medicare COB Unit can be reached by calling 1-800-442-1300 or (217) 782-7007.

CDPH Mental Health Centers

The Chicago Department of Public Health Mental Health Centers offer care that provides support for emotional, traumatic, or behavioral difficulties. All Mental Health Centers provide outpatient mental health services for adults, children and adolescents including intake/screening, individual therapy, group therapy, case management, and medication management (same-day medication appointments).Support is based on needs identified by the consumer, including goals, objectives, and specific mental health services. These services are provided free of charge to all Chicagoans who are unable to pay. For more information and locations, click here.

National Alliance on Mental Health

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI runs educational programs and a toll-free NAMI help line. You can find your local NAMI office in Illinois by using the website. You can also visit the NAMI Illinois website directly for more information. You can call the NAMI National Help Line at 800-950-6264, Monday through Friday, 9 am-9 pm CST. Or in a crisis, text “NAMI” to 741741 for 24/7, confidential, free crisis counseling.

The Illinois NAMI office can be contacted via:

1603 Orrington Avenue, Suite 600

Evanston, IL 60201

Office: 217-522-1403

nami@namiillinois.org

Utilities

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible low-income households pay for home energy services (primarily heating during winter months). Illinois residents with a household income that does not exceed an amount determined annually by the Department of Commerce are eligible. Annual eligibility levels are determined based on available funding and may not exceed 60% of the state median income.

See How to Apply for more information.

For a complete list of LIHEAP application agencies based on county, see Where to Apply. For additional program information check out the Frequently Asked Questions. Or call Help Illinois Families call center at 1-833-711-0374.

ComEd Payment Assistance

ComEd offers a variety of programs, from their Low Income Discount (LID) program to payment programs, visit ComEd's website to learn more and see which programs you are eligible for.

Peoples Gas

Peoples Gas offers energy assessments and rebates for residential and business uses. Learn more about Peoples Gas's utility assistance programs by clicking here.

Utility Billing Relief Program

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Utility Billing Relief (UBR) provides low-income City of Chicago residents with a reduced rate on their water, sewer, and water-sewer tax as well as debt relief for those who demonstrate they can manage the reduced rate bills for one year. Learn more and apply on the City of Chicago's website.

CEDA

CEDA’s LIHEAP programs offer heating and electricity assistance through the DVP program to income-eligible households. DVP issues a one-time benefit applied directly to your utility accounts. Assistance is available to help households with their heating (natural gas, oil, or propane) and/or electric bills. Cash payments are also available to eligible renters who do not have heating bills because their energy costs are included in the rent.

The LIHEAP program begins on October 1 and runs until August 15, or until funds are exhausted. To help the most vulnerable populations within communities, there will be one priority month.

To learn more, click here.

Chicago Connected

Chicago Connected was a groundbreaking program that provided no-cost, high-speed internet service to CPS students and their families. This first-of-its-kind program was one of the largest efforts by any city to provide internet access for students. Through partnerships with businesses, community groups, governments, and philanthropic organizations, Chicago Connected responded to an opportunity to eliminate a barrier to digital learning that disproportionately hurt the city’s low‐income families and students of color. To learn more, click here.

Lifeline

Lifeline is a federal program that helps people with low incomes get discounted telephone or internet service. Learn about eligibility, applying, and getting help with your service by clicking here.