Pritzker Announces Measures to
Continue Supporting Working Families, People Experiencing
Homelessness and Child Care Providers
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[April 13, 2020]
Building
on measures to address challenges facing Illinois working families
during the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Pritzker announced increases
in SNAP benefits, funding to support people experiencing
homelessness, and a stipend to child care providers who have
provided child care to essential workers during this crisis.
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“Today, I want to provide you an update on what my
team and I have been doing to ease the burden of this moment on our
most vulnerable residents, our families and our children,” said
Governor Pritzker. “It is especially important now that we are doing
all that we can to help all our residents through this crisis - we
want every eligible person to be able to access our services as
easily as possible”.
EXPANDING SNAP BENEFITS
Through the passage of the Family First Prevention Services Act and
the state of Illinois’ requests for special waivers from the United
States Department of Agriculture, the Illinois Department of Human
Services is increasing monthly benefit amounts, expanding SNAP
access, and expediting process and flexibility. For many people,
this will mean almost doubling their existing benefits.
This expansion will result in almost $80 million more for Illinois
families.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2020/Mar/28/images/ads/current/newhollandbank_sda_SFARM_2020.png)
“Thanks to the strong, kind, and clear leadership from Governor
Pritzker – we are working to ensure that Illinois’ human service
network is able to be sustained through this crisis and beyond,”
said Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary Grace Hou. “We
at IDHS want all eligible people to receive these life-altering and
life-sustaining benefits, and I want the public to know these
temporary benefit increases are designed to help more families
withstand the extraordinary pressures many are facing during this
emergency.”
SNAP feeds nearly 900,000 Illinois households, feeding over 1.7
million people across Illinois and contributes to the local
economy. Those eligible for SNAP include low-income seniors, people
with disabilities, and working families.
While many IDHS offices remain open, people are highly encouraged to
stay at home and to sign up for SNAP and other benefits by visiting
DHS.illinois.gov/ helpishere.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2020/Mar/28/images/ads/current/castlemanor_sda_FINANCIAL_2017.png)
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INCREASING SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS
Last week, the Illinois Department of Human Services announced a 5%
increase to initiatives supporting people experiencing homelessness.
An additional $6 million in new funding has been allocated to
support the 19 Continuums of Care across the state and an additional
$2 million will support housing and other services for people
experiencing homelessness. Through the expansion of these services,
DHS will ensure decisions are made at the local level allowing
flexibility to better serve impacted people.
DHS is building on the existing infrastructure of shelters and
partner programs throughout the state to meet the needs of people
experiencing homelessness during this crisis. DHS currently funds
homeless shelters, homeless prevention and permanent supportive
housing.
SUPPORTING CHILD CARE
For child care providers who have been licensed to operate during
this pandemic, stipends will be provided to help them address their
added costs. Licensed homes will receive $750. Centers with one to
two classrooms open will receive $2,000, centers with three or more
classrooms open will receive $3,000. Applications for the stipend
will be available on Monday to providers through their local Child
Care Resource & Referral agency.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2020/Mar/28/images/ads/current/chicagost_sda_SFARM_2020.png)
Child Care Resource & Referral agencies continue to be available to
provide support to providers and answer their questions as they work
to keep children safe and meet families’ needs.
Illinois continues to assist essential workers, especially health
care workers in finding childcare. A website with resources has been
created for communities detailing how they can help ensure essential
workers have access to the child care they need.
For more information, visit:
https://emergencycare.inccrra.org/. |