Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, alongside the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), industry leaders, labor leaders, and public officials, have developed industry-specific guidelines for safely operating within Phase IV: Gradually Resume. These guidelines are part of the city’s Be Safe Chicago framework that will be used to guide Chicago’s reopening process amid COVID-19.
Aligned with the State of Illinois but tailored to Chicago’s context, these guidelines advise employers and residents of Chicago on how to gradually resume reopening while continuing to prioritize the health of our most vulnerable residents. Please reference the materials on this page to help cautiously guide your businesses and employees as we go into Phase IV as of Friday, June 26: Gradually Resume. As we continue to reopen further, more guidelines will be added to this page, and existing guidelines will be updated.
Find below for a guide to resources and monetary relief for families in need:
- Greater Chicago Food Depository
- Meals on Wheels
- The Homelessness Food and Shelter Directory
- Chicago Public Schools
- Chicago Public Schools are open Monday – Friday, 9am-1pm, to provide meals (breakfast and lunch). Every young person under 18 years old is eligible – no child will be turned away.
Dedicated Shopping Hours for Seniors
Whole Foods: Customers age 60 and older can shop daily an hour before stores open to the general public. So, if a store opens at 9 a.m., for example, seniors have access at 8 a.m.
Target: The first hour of shopping each Wednesday is reserved for the elderly and other vulnerable populations, such as those with compromised immune systems.
Jewel-Osco: Senior shoppers are being given priority on from 7-9 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Mariano’s: The grocer has set aside two hours daily — 6 to 8 a.m. — for seniors and those with underlying health conditions.
Walmart: Customers ages 60 and older can shop every Tuesday an hour before stores open. Walmart pharmacies and vision centers will also be open during this time.
Tony’s Fresh Market: Senior priority shopping hours are in effect 7-9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- Community Service Centers
- ShelterList
- IDHS Family Community Resource Centers
- IL Domestic Violence Hotline: Call or text 877-863-6338
- Rental Assitance Program
- HUD Suspends all foreclosure and evictions for the next 60 days for FHA borrowers
- Eviction Schedule
- Eviction Informacion
- Are you a renter with a housing choice voucher or HCV landlord?
- Unemployment Benefits
- Chicago Small Business Resiliency Fund
- The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses
- Financial assistance resources available throughout Chicago for Small businesses.
- Protect yourself financially from the impact of the coronavirus
- IRS Stimulus Check Portal
- IRS Pagos de Impacto Económico
- Social Security Administration
- Chicago Public Schools
- Enrichment Learning Resources
- ebooks and magazines
- Chicago Healthy Adolescents & Teens (CHAT)
- Digital Lessons for Remote Learning for Families. Free + On-Demand!
- Greater Chicago Food Depository
- BraveSpace Alliance
- The Homelessness Food and Shelter Directory
- Health – Heartland Alliance Health Centers remain open. Please call ahead: 773-275-2586. Locations: 1015 W Lawrence (M-F, 8-5); 932 W Washington Blvd (M-F 8-5); 5501 S Halsted (M-F 8:30-5)
- Employment Related Issues:Know Your Rights If you do not have work authorization in the United States, you still have rights. If you need assistance understanding your rights, you can contact ARISE Chicago at 773-769-6000.If you have valid work authorization (this includes DACA recipients), you may qualify for unemployment benefits if you have lost your job or hours worked.
- Evictions: All evictions/foreclosures have been suspended for at least 30 days in Cook County.
- The City of Chicago is temporarily suspending debt collection, ticketing, and towing practices to provide debt relief in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
- ComEd is suspending service disconnections providing resources, and payment accommodations for those who may have challenges paying their monthly energy bill.
- Peoples Gas will not be disconnecting people’s service for non-payment through the end of March.
- Comcast announced new steps they’re taking to help people stay connected to the Internet as more schools suspend classes and companies encourage employees to work from home due to the coronavirus.
- Comcast: Internet Essentials Free to New Customers