Resource Directory for Illinois Families with Young Children Experiencing Homelessness and Housing Insecurity

This resource directory provides contact information, descriptions of programs, state agencies, and non-profit organizations in Illinois that provide support for families of young children experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Families may wish to begin searching for resources in their local community using these links:

Basic Needs

Families experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity first need help finding food, shelter, and clothing to meet their basic needs. This section contains links to Illinois agencies that provide these necessities.

Food Resources

• Food Connections
  The IDHS Food Connections directory lists agencies that provide supplemental food, emergency meal, and other feeding programs. Listings are by region and county.
• Food Banks
  This graphic map from Feeding Illinois shows the coverage areas of Illinois Food Banks by County.
• Illinois Pantries, Soup Kitchens, and Homeless Shelters
  Search for emergency food resources in Illinois including Food Pantries, Soup Kitchens and Homeless Shelters by city, county, and program type by city, county, or zipcode.
• Summer Food Service Program
  The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) provides listings of Summer Food Service Program sites where children can receive a nutritious meal when school is not in session.

• Cash, SNAP (Food Stamps) & Medical Assistance
  This link provides information on eligibility and the application process for the SNAP benefits program in Illinois.
• Illinois Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
  The Women, Infants, and Children program provides supplemental nutrition resources, including infant formula or breastfeeding supports through supplemental food and breast pumps to infants and children under age five and pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding mothers.
• Homeless Children in School Nutrition Program
  Homeless children in Illinois are entitled to free meals from school feeding programs. This link provides a slide show from ISBE about explaining the policies and documentation requirements for this entitlement.

Housing Resources

• Rental Housing Resources
  This website has information about rental assistance through the Illinois Housing Development Authority and links to various programs that provide rental assistance and subsidized housing.
• HUD Resource Locator
  This webpage provides a map-based search for affordable housing, local public housing authorities, homeless resources, and HUD offices across the United States.
• Illinois Housing Search
  This website provides an online search for affordable housing in Illinois. In addition, it provides detailed information and links to housing resources, helpful tools for renters such as an affordability calculator, rental checklist, and information about renter rights and responsibilities.
• Need Homeless Assistance?
  This link provides a listing of Illinois Continuum of Care Agencies that can help to find affordable housing in local communities and
• Domestic Violence Victim Service Office Locator
  Domestic violence is common experience for families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. This link provides a list of shelters and agencies that can assist.

• Emergency & Transitional Housing Program
  This IDHS webpage provides a description of emergency and transitional housing services as well as a list of FY 22 Emergency and Transitional Housing Providers in the State of Illinois.
• Crisis Nursery Programs
  When families are in the process of figuring out emergency housing, they may find temporary child care for their young children to be a helpful support. Families in Illinois with children under the age of six may call for assistance or be referred by a friend, family member, school, or social services agency for child care help during a short-term crisis situation. This tab provides contact information for the nurseries located in Urbana, Springfield, Rockford, Bloomington, Chicago, and Peoria. Call the local nursery listed for direct assistance.

• Homeless Prevention
  This IDHS webpage provides a description of services available in the state of Illinois to help families who are housing insecure to prevent homelessness. A link to a list of FY 22 Homeless Prevention Providers throughout Illinois is provided.
• Utility Bill Assistance
  This webpage  from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Provides information about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in Illinois and the Home Weatherization program.
• Community Action Agencies
  This webpage from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Provides information about the Community Services Blog Grant Program (CSBG) that allows local community action agencies to help families secure a variety of supports including rental assistance.  

• Member Diaper Banks
  This directory provides links to diaper banks across the Illinois and the United States. Families in Illinois that live in the St. Louis metropolitan area may want to connect with with St. Louis Area Diaper Bank for assistance.

Educational Rights

Families experiencing homelessness should be aware of their rights under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act. This tab contains resources to help families understand their rights and access educational opportunities.

• Rights of Families Experiencing Homelessness
  This tip sheet from the Illinois Early Learning Project contains information about the educational rights of homeless families.
• Keeping Track of Important Information
  Families may work with their local school district’s homeless liaison to locate the documentation needed to complete school enrollment paperwork and apply for public benefits. This tip sheet from the Illinois Early Learning Project suggests strategies for locating and tracking key information.
• Map with Contacts
  This map provides contact information for the regional homeless education liaisons of ISBE.
• Homeless Children in School Nutrition Program
  Homeless children in Illinois are entitled to free meals from school feeding programs. This link provides a slide show from ISBE about explaining the policies and documentation requirements for this entitlement.

Early Care and Education

Families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity should have the same access to child care and child development services as those who are not experiencing these challenges. This tab contains links to publicly funded early care and education (ECE) services in Illinois. Families may wish to start by looking at the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development website for an overview of the programs that serve children and families in Illinois as well as answers to frequently asked questions.

• ExceleRate Illinois
  The Excelerate Illinois website has a search feature for families to help them find ECE programs in their local community. This includes publicly funded ECE programs, child care centers, and licensed home child care providers. This program is run by The Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (INCCRRA).
• Head Start Center Locator
  Head Start is a comprehensive child development program and offers preschool, child care, and home visiting services in a variety of formats. Find your local Head Start and Early Head Start Programs using this online program locator.
• CCAP Eligibility/How to Apply
  Families can apply for assistance with paying for child care which can enable parents to maintain stable employment or enroll in school.
• Preschool for All Children Ages 3 to 5 Years
  This webpage describes the ISBE Preschool for All Program.
• Crisis Nursery Programs
  Families in Illinois with children under the age of six may call for assistance or be referred by a friend, family member, school, or social services agency for child care help during a short-term crisis situation. This tab provides contact information for the nurseries located in Urbana, Springfield, Rockford, Bloomington, Chicago, and Peoria. Call the local nursery listed for direct assistance.

• Developmental Screenings
  This link to the IDHS website describes various types of developmental screenings for children in Illinois and provides links to the agencies who provide these services.
• Child and Family Connections Offices
  Families may reach out to their local CFC Office to request a developmental screening for children from birth through age 3.
• Getting Started in Early Intervention
  This link to the Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse website can help families of infants and toddlers under the age of three years with concerns about their child’s development or an identified developmental delay or disability get started with Early Intervention Program.

• Illinois Home Visiting
  Families may wonder what will happen during a home visit. This webpage from iGrow Illinois helps families understand the benefits of participating in a home visiting program.
• Find a Program
  This webpage from iGrow Illinois provides a searchable list and interactive map to help families find home visiting programs.

Family Well Being

Once families have found resources to meet their basic needs, they can considers ways to strengthen their family. These services help families improve their economic situation and overall resilience in the face of the challenges they have experienced due to homelessness or housing insecurity. This tab contains links to services including care for physical and mental health, substance abuse treatment, and career supports for Illinois families.

• Find a Program
  This webpage from iGrow Illinois provides a searchable list and interactive map to help families find home visiting programs.
• Head Start Center Locator
  Head Start is a comprehensive child development program and offers preschool, child care, and home visiting services in a variety of formats. Find your local Head Start and Early Head Start Programs using this online program locator.
• Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
  This webpage helps individuals locate the health care program that is suited to their needs and includes information about publicly funded health care programs.
• All Kids
  The All Kids website provides information about eligibility and services provided by the state comprehensive health care program for children in Illinois.
• Moms and Babies
  The Moms and Babies program provides health care to pregnant women and their infants to ensure a healthy pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. This link provides information about eligibility and services.
• Health Regions and Local Health Departments
  Contact your local public health department for assistance with immunizations, information about communicable diseases, and health promotion programs. This link provides an interactive map can help you find your local or regional public health office.
• Find a Health CenterCommunity Health Centers, also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers, or FQHCs, provide care regardless of your insurance status or ability to pay. This link provides a locator to help families find a center in their local community.
• Illinois Nutrition Education Programs
  The SNAP-Ed and Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Programs (EFNEP) provide nutrition education to SNAP recipients and limited resource families in order to help them maintain a healthy diet on a limited budget.
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
  The Women, Infants, and Children program provides supplemental nutrition resources to children under age five and pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding mothers. The WIC program also provides health and nutrition education.

• Search for Treatment
  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA website provides listings of treatment facilties. Enter your zip code or city to find programs in your area.
• Find a Health CenterCommunity Health Centers, also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers, or FQHCs, provide care regardless of your insurance status or ability to pay. Some of these centers provide referrals or treatment for substance abuse disorders. This link provides a locator to help families find a center in their local community.
• Support Groups
  Support groups may help individuals maintain wellness and find peer support. This link to the The Illinois Chapter of NAMI provides links to local chapters with support group meetings around the State of Illinois.
• Support
  DBSA chapters offer peer-run support groups through the state of Illinois as well as an online mindful parenting support network. This link can help you find a local support group as well as online resources.

• Division Substance Use Prevention and Recovery
  IDHS provides a variety of resources related to alcoholism and substance abuse on their website. This link includes a variety of informational pamphlets and hotline numbers for assistance.
• Search for Treatment
  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA website provides listings of treatment facilties. Enter your zip code or city to find programs in your area.
• Find a Health CenterCommunity Health Centers, also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers, or FQHCs, provide careregardless of your insurance status or ability to pay. Some of these centers provide referals or treatment ofr substance abuse disorders. This link provides a locator to help families find a center in their local community.
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
  AA provides support group meetings throughout Illinois and around the world for indivudals struggling with alcoholism. This link allows you to enter your zipcode to find a meeting near you.
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
  NA provides support group meetings throughout Illinois and around the world for individuals struggling with drug addiction. This link allows you to enter your zipcode to find a meeting near you.

• Find an Adult Education Program in Your Area
  The Illinois Community College Board provides information about adult education in Illinois. The site has an Adult Education Program locator that is searchable by Zip Code.
• GED Online Learning (GED-i)
  This website from the Illinois Community College board contains information about the  GED test in Illinois and test preparation materials.
• State of Illinois Workforce Portal
  Illinois WorkNet Provides a wide variety of information about job searching, career choice, and adult educational opportunities.

This project is supported by the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative (PDG B-5), Grant Number 90TP0001-01-00, from the Office of Child Care, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Office of Child Care, the Administration for Children and Families, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

IEL Resources

• Tip sheets:
  • Keeping Track of Important Information
  • Rights of Families Experiencing Homelessness

Web Resources