Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, The Resurrection Project and Open Society Foundations today announced the “Chicago Resiliency Fund” – an up to $5 million cash assistance program to support the more than 300,000 Chicago residents who were excluded from federal stimulus aid in response to COVID-19.
This fund will provide $1,000 per household for eligible Chicagoans, which includes, but is not limited to:
- Undocumented individuals
- Mixed-status families
- Dependent adults
- Returning residents
“This fund serves as a critical resource for the thousands of Chicagoans who so sorely need support and relief from the impact of COVID-19, but are unable to receive it through the federal government’s own stimulus channels,” said Mayor Lightfoot.
The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) applaud The Resurrection Project and the Open Society Foundations for taking such bold action for our communities, especially during this time of unprecedented need.
The Resurrection Project, a longstanding nonprofit organization committed to creating healthier communities throughout Chicago, will serve as the lead fiscal agent for the Chicago Resiliency Fund.
The Resurrection Project will convene a diverse group of community-based organizations to conduct outreach and identify households excluded from the federal stimulus relief, to ensure as many eligible Chicagoans participate as possible. Cash issuance will begin in mid-June.
More information on the Chicago Resiliency Fund, including updates on launch date, ways to apply for assistance and ways to donate to the fund, can be found at: resurrectionproject.org/chicagofund.
“The COVID-19 crisis has families across our communities fighting for their health, economic well-being, and lives. Thousands of families are struggling financially as a result of not receiving any Federal stimulus funds.,” said Raul Raymundo, CEO of The Resurrection Project.
Realizing the critical need to support all of Chicago’s residents, a group of funders came together, including the Open Society Foundations, to help establish the Chicago Resiliency Fund.
In response to COVID-19, the Open Society Foundations has committed more than $130 million to combat the ravages of the virus around the globe, with a focus on providing immediate relief for vulnerable communities.
Chicago received $1 million from the Open Society Foundations, which was the second-largest single donation from the organization for these efforts.
This fund will serve a critical role in supporting individuals and families – many of whom tend to reside within the communities that have been most adversely impacted by COVID-19 – who could not safely shelter in place, whose employment did not allow for remote work, or who may have lost their employment, but are not eligible for unemployment insurance.