• Metropolitan Family Services – Programs focusing on academic achievement and social and emotional development among children, youth and families to foster success in life. Helping parents, especially younger parents, prepare for the challenges of parenting ensures that children are cared for, nurtured and experience a future of promise and opportunity.

• Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development - The Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development (GOECD) leads the state's initiatives to create an integrated system of quality, early learning and development programs to help give all Illinois children a strong educational foundation before they begin kindergarten.

• Birth to Five Illinois – A statewide and regional infrastructure that works to amplify input from communities in the development of policies and funding priorities and the mobilize communities to build and sustain equitable access to inclusive, high-quality early childhood services for all children and families in the state of Illinois.

• Illinois Action for Children – Connects families with child care and other programs while also advocating for a stronger early childhood care system throughout the state.

• Erikson Institute Center for Children and Families - Providing support services for families and children using evidence-based behavioral and emotional treatments.

• DHS Division of Early Childhood - Administers community-based prevention and intervention programs to strengthen capacity of children, adolescents, women and men to make healthy decisions, utilize support systems, access opportunities, and achieve self-sufficiency.

• Onward Neighborhood House - Adult education and affordable child care rank among the community’s greatest needs. Onward House is a comprehensive Adult Education providers in Belmont Cragin and one of the major providers of high-quality Early Childhood Education.

• Christopher House – Utilizes a unique model that combines a continuum of personalized education and immersive family support, which extend well beyond the classroom, including Parent School and After School.

• Chicago Early Learning – A partnership of Chicago Public Schools, the City of Chicago, and Chicago Department of Family and Support Services for enrolling infants and toddlers in preschool, Early Head Start and other programs.

Want to double check whose district you reside in? Look up your elected officials on the State Board of Elections website.

Intersted in learning more about the 20th District? Check out this fact sheet on housing statistics in our community. 

Food resources

• Irving Park Community Food Pantry - open every Wednesday morning from 9 a.m. to noon and on the second Tuesday night of every month from 6 to 7 p.m..
• DHS - Emergency Food Program - The Emergency Food Program is a USDA food commodities program administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services with distribution through regional food banks.
• Greater Chicago Food Depository - Citywide food pantry resources per zip code as well as assistance with SNAP ( Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)  and medical benefits Other resources: Job training, children, older adult and veteran programs

Housing resources

• Northwest Home Equity Assurance Program (NWHEAP) Delinquent Tax Program - NWHEAP is providing homeowners on the Northwest Side of Chicago tax assistance on their delinquent property taxes. The Delinquent Tax Program offers a select number of eligible residents within the NWHEAP boundaries the opportunity to have their property tax bill paid up to $5,000. NWHEAP has also partnered with Northwest Center to provide financial education to applicants approved for the forgivable loan program.

• Metropolitan Tenants Organization - Provides education in organizing and empowering tenants to have a voice in decisions that affect the affordability and availability of safe, decent and accessible housing. Services include tenant stabilization, building organizing and advocacy.
• Chicago Renter’s Rights - A city wide campaign to educate Chicagoans about the legal responsibilities and rights of renters and property owners through the Residential Landlord and Tenant (RLT) Ordinance.

• Israel Gifts of Hope Foundation - Support for loved ones of victims of gun violence

• Chicago Survivors - Counseling, immediate crisis response services, ongoing support for survivors of crime. Crisis Helpline can be reached at 877-863-6338

• The Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) - The Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) was created as a result of the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) (430 ILCS 69), which was passed by the Illinois General Assembly in 2021. The RPSA is a comprehensive approach to violence prevention in response to the State of Illinois' heightened experience of loss, harm, and trauma by the hands of firearm violence, especially during the COVID-19 lock down.

• Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) - Program: R3 grants fund programs in Illinois communities that have been harmed by violence, excessive incarceration, and economic disinvestment.

Domestic violence resources and contacts

• Michelle Pernini, MSW, LCSW

  Senior Domestic Violence Director Mujeres Latinas en Acción

  773-890-7671| This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  mujereslatinasenaccion.org 

• Neli Vazquez Rowland

  President & Co-Founder A Safe Haven Foundation

  2750 West Roosevelt Road

  Chicago, IL 60608 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  www.ASafeHaven.org

• Loren Gutierrez | she/her/hers

  Managing Attorney | Safety & Family Practice Group Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services

  101 N. Wacker Dr., Ste. 1700 | Chicago, IL 60606

  p: 312-771-8846 (direct) | f: 312-986-4016 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  www.laschicago.org

• Olivia Farrell, MPP | she/her/hers

  Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Research The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence

  1 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1630

  Chicago, IL 60601

  p: 312.527.0730 ext. 238 | f: 312.527.0733 e: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  www.the-network.org

Mental health and wellness

• Resources for navigating trauma – Resources for children, teens and adults following community tragedies.
• Hope for the Day – Organization focusing on proactive suicide prevention and mental health education
• NAMI Chicago - educates to fight stigma and discrimination, fiercely advocates for the Chicago community, and shares hope, connection and expertise with people on their mental health journey

Family health

• Rincon Family Services -Comprehensive treatments and prevention services for families struggling with addiction, court mandated services and after school care.
• Metropolitan Family Services - services designed to strengthen families to their fullest potential. Programs and services include economic stability, education, emotional wellness and self-legal empowerment for domestic violence cases, family and elder law as well as housing and consumer issues.
• Erie Family Health Center - COVID Tests and Vaccines, Adult, Senior and Children’s Health, Dental, prenatal, Reproductive health, and HIV/AIDs Care.
• Illinois Unidos - Information on COVID-19 resources including health and vaccinations, housing, food and more. All information is available in English and Spanish.
• State of Illinois Coronavirus Response - Information on COVID vaccines, testing, and data from the State of Illinois.