Meals and Financial Assistance Resources
COVID-19 Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
Information from the U.S. Small Business Administration regarding COVID-19 relief options.
COVID-19: Where to Get Help for Illinois Families
Information for Illinois families on how to find assistance with meals, childcare, unemployment, housing, learning and instruction, healthcare and immigration during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please visit the IDHS Information and Resource During the COVID-19 Crisis website for more details.
Crosswalk Community Action Agency
Crosswalk Community Action Agency (CCAA) offers a variety of programs and services to help individuals and families in Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson and Williamson Counties. CCAA programs address the “day-to-day” needs and help individuals work to become self-sufficient.
Programs include:
- A Diaper Program
- Emergency Services
- Energy Assistance (LIHEAP)
- Food Pantry
- Homeless Prevention Services
- Home Repair and Rehabilitation
- Home Weatherization (IHWAP)
- Scholarships
Decatur Public Schools COVID-19 Information
Decatur Public Schools’ Return to Learn website provides information on how the district ill deliver meals to students’ homes during the first quarter of the 2020-21 school year, while students are participating in virtual learning.
Diverse Learners Recovery Fund
The Diverse Learners Recovery Fund is a lottery-style grant program for Chicago families with children with disabilities offered through the Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. The fund will provide one-time grants of $500 to up to 8,000 eligible K-12 students through a lottery. Families must submit an application and complete the verification process to participate. The deadline to apply is Oct. 30, 2024.
The Diverse Learners Recovery Fund program will select recipients through three lottery drawings on the following dates:
- July 1, 2024
- Sept. 16, 2024
- On or after Nov. 30, 2024
The program will notify selected applicants by email. Verified applications that are not chosen will be included in the next drawing.
Submitting an eligible application does not guarantee you will receive the funds.
Dove, Inc. provides a variety of outreach programs, financial assistance and resources to residents in Macon, Shelby, Moultrie, Piatt and DeWitt counties.
Dove Financial Assistance (DFA) may be able to provide emergency help with water, power, eye prescriptions, dental needs and some prescription medications.
DFA also works with the Energy Assistance Fund to help people with their heating and cooling bills through the “Warm Neighbors, Cool Friends Program” in Macon, DeWitt and Piatt Counties.
DuPage CRF Housing Assistance Program
The DuPage County Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) Housing Assistance program is not accepting requests at this time.
If you are a DuPage County resident experiencing a housing crisis please contact DuPage County Community Services at (630) 407-6500.
Emergency and Transitional Housing Program
The Emergency and Transitional Housing Program in Illinois gives immediate and comprehensive shelter services to people who are homeless and people at risk of becoming homeless. Services are provided at shelters run by nonprofit organizations and local governments. for more information, see the Emergency and Transitional Housing Provider List.
Entry Point for Suburban Cook County
Entry Point’s purpose is to ensure all people experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness have fair and equal access to housing in suburban Cook County.
Individuals and families experiencing homelessness or who are at-risk of homelessness can access Entry Point throughout the region. Trained Entry Point staff at access locations work with households to understand their strengths and needs using a standardized assessment. Entry Point uses HUD homeless assistance eligibility guidelines and uniform prioritization policies to refer people to the right programs based on their preferences and levels of need.
Entry Point also helps suburban Cook County make the best matches between homeless assistance resources and the people who need them most.
Eviction Help for Illinois Residents
Eviction Help Illinois is a non-profit organization providing free legal aid, mediation services, and connections to other resources including rental assistance to increase housing stability.