Chicago Resiliency Fund 2.0 releases first round of relief payments - applications still open

More than 2,400 eligible households (residents) who applied were given $500 relief payments.

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CHICAGO – Lori Lightfoot and the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) announced that $1.2 million from the Chicago Resiliency Fund 2.0 had been distributed to residents on May 2.

Thousands of eligible residents applied for financial assistance, and the Mayor's office reported that over 2,400 households received the $500 payments. The fund was created to provide "assistance to populations that had difficulties accessing and qualifying for federal relief payments," according to the city's official website.

The Chicago Resiliency Fund targeted households with dependents excluded from federal stimulus payments, undocumented residents, and domestic workers.

Lightfoot said the fund helped address the economic security that caregivers and care workers face.

"My administration is proud to have delivered this added financial relief to caregivers in our city,” she said. "With the Resiliency Fund 2.0, we can catch additional households who fell through the cracks due to eligibility requirements that changed with the third stimulus payment and address the economic insecurity that too many of our caregivers and care workers face."

Undocumented residents and domestic workers in need of financial assistance can still apply for the $500 payment. DFSS expects to award up to 7,000 domestic workers and 10,000 undocumented residents with a one-time deposit.

Eligible residents must meet the following:

• Be a domestic worker or undocumented resident
• Live in Chicago
• Be 18 or older
• Have a household income at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level ($74,580 for a household of 3)

All eligible Chicago residents are encouraged to apply, regardless of immigration status. According to the Mayor's office press release, no questions will be asked regarding citizenship or immigration status in the application or verification process.