Government Shutdown Resources

As of 12:00 AM ET, October 1, 2025, the federal government is shut down. Below, you can find a list of resources and information available to furloughed employees and others affected as a result of the ongoing government shutdown.

RESOURCES FOR FEDERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES & CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES

FOOD BANKS & FOOD ASSISTANCE RESOURCES

    • Provides an interactive map of food pantries, soup kitchens, and other distribution centers for Cook County.

    • Provides an interactive map of food pantries, soup kitchens, and other distribution centers for Boone, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will, and Winnebago counties.

    • Provides an interactive map of food pantries, soup kitchens, and other distribution centers for Bureau, Carroll, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jo Daviess, Knox, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, McDonough, Mercer, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Warren, and Whiteside counties.

    • Provides an interactive map of food pantries, soup kitchens, and other distribution centers for Adams, Bond, Brown, Cass, Christian, Effingham, Fayette, Greene, Jefferson, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Marion, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, and Shelby counties.

    • Provides Emergency Food Box and Mobile Pantry/Delivery services to residents in need, as well as maintaining a “choice” food pantry in Peoria. Serves Peoria, Tazewell, and Mason counties.

    • Provides an interactive map of food pantries, soup kitchens, and other distribution centers for Champaign, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Jasper, Livingston, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Vermilion, and Woodford counties.

    • Provides an interactive map of food pantries, soup kitchens, and other distribution centers for Calhoun, Clinton, Franklin, Jackson, Jersey, Madison, Monroe, Perry, Randolph, St. Clair, Washington, and Williamson counties.

    • Provides an interactive map of food pantries, soup kitchens, and other distribution centers for Alexander, Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Johnson, Lawrence, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Richland, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, and White counties.

CHILD CARE RESOURCES

  • Prevention Initiative Programs focus on early childhood programming for prenatal parents and at-risk children birth to age three in community-based organizations (CBOs), using center-based and home visiting program models. “At risk” children are defined as those who, because of their home and community environment, are subject to a myriad of socio-economic challenges and barriers in language, culture, and economics. These barriers have been determined, as a result of screening procedures, to potentially place them at risk for academic failure.

  • SPIDER is a comprehensive service resource database that connects Illinois families to local, community-based services and programs. Information is available in English, Spanish, and Polish.

  • ExceleRate Illinois is a program that can provide information and refer parents to childcare options near them.

HOUSING RESOURCES

  • Illinois Department of Human Services offers programs and services to assist people with finding emergency housing, homelessness prevention, and supportive housing. They are also able to connect people with other housing resources.

  • Eviction Help Illinois offers free legal aid for Illinois residents who are renters facing potential eviction.

Downstate

  • The Lighthouse Shelter for the homeless in Marion, Illinois is a faith-based organization dedicated to promoting the general welfare of the homeless in Southern Illinois.

  • BCMW Community Services serves Illinois individuals, families and children in Bond, Clinton, Marion and Washington counties since 1967.?

  • Fifth Street Renaissance provides safe housing, essential resources, and personalized support to individuals and families in Springfield.

  • Home For All Continuum of Care assists those in the Peoria area with a range of services from emergency shelter, domestic violence assistance, permanent housing and more.

City of Chicago

  • City of Chicago Emergency Rental Assistance is available for people suffering financial hardship due to a crisis such as loss of job, home fire or illness. The program is intended to allow families to maintain housing during the time it takes to regain stability.

  • CEDA provides utility bill assistance and other housing related services in Chicagoland.

  • Renaissance Social Services provides?a range of proven solutions including prevention, outreach, rapid re-housing, permanent supportive housing, behavioral health care, and clinical case management.

  • Inspiration Corporation connects people and creates opportunity through access to social services, job training, housing, and food.

  • A Safe Haven Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals in crisis through treatment, housing, support services, and career pathways. By joining our efforts, you become part of a powerful force for change, impacting lives and the fabric of our city, turning setbacks into stories of resilience, hope, and opportunity.

  • Featherfist is an organization serving the homeless community in Chicago.

RESOURCES FOR OLDER AMERICANS

Illinois Department of Aging Resources

City of Chicago

  • Caregiving Assistance is a program that helps people who are 60 years of age and above receive caregiving assistance.

Northern Illinois

  • Age Guide (DuPage, ?Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties)

Central Illinois

  • AgeLinc (Cass, Christian, Greene, Jersey, Logan, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Sangamon, and Scott Counties)

Downstate

  • AgeSmart Community Resources (Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair, and Washington Counties)

RESOURCES FOR VETERANS

Downstate

City of Chicago

HEALTH RESOURCES

  • 211 Illinois is a 24/7 resource that connects individuals to experts who can help with non-emergency needs including health care, mental health, and more.

Health Insurance Resources

  • Cook County Health offers quality healthcare services, including primary care, emergency care, and specialty care to all Cook Country residents.

Mental Health Resources

  • NAMI Illinois offers support, guidance and understanding to anyone concerned about mental health and the treatment of mental illness.

City of Chicago

  • Thresholds is fighting to transform the lives of people living with mental illnesses and substance use disorders.?

Downstate

  • Alexander & Pulaski County – Delta Center provides mental health counseling, substance abuse, provides assistive, community training, supportive & supervised housing, adult substance, abuse, and psychosocial rehabilitation.

  • Jackson County – Centerstone 24-hour emergency services, outpatient substance and alcohol abuse counseling, case management, nursing home consultations, support groups, day treatment, psychiatric services, medication management, home based support, & hospice consultation.

  • Massac County Mental Health & Family Counseling Center is a 24-hour crisis intervention, home visits, adult substance & sexual abuse counseling, marriage and family counseling, general counseling for depression & anxiety, day treatment, employee assistance program, assertive community treatment, psychosocial rehabilitation, psychiatrist available. Medicare, Medicaid, insurance, and sliding scale payments are accepted

  • Hardin County -Family Counseling Center Inc offers recovery support services dedicated to helping patients get back on their feet and continue their recovery. These support services include housing services and employment counseling or training as well as transitional services including discharge planning, naloxone and overdose education and outcome follow-up after discharge.

  • Perry County Counseling Center provides 24-hour crisis intervention, substance abuse counseling, employee assistance program, day treatment, outpatient counseling, geriatric counseling, psychiatrist, psychologist services, home visits, and advocacy for social benefits. Medicare, Medicaid, insurance, and sliding scale accepted.

  • Saline County - Egyptian Public & Mental Health provides 24-hour crisis intervention, outpatient counseling, death & dying support group, sexual abuse support group, psychiatric services, medication management, alcohol & drug treatment counseling, and alternative housing assistance.