How Exactly Does The Lottery Work
According to city officials, all applications will be closely reviewed eligibility placed into an initial lottery designed to prioritize households living in poverty in areas facing preexisting economic hardship.
From there, eligible applicants will be placed into a final selection lottery, where 5,000 households will be “invited to enroll n the monthly cash assistance program,” a release says.
Push For Fourth Stimulus
Yet Michael Tubbs, former mayor of Stockton, California, told the aldermen in March that the basic income payments had greatly helped his community since they began in 2019.
It comes as many families push for a fourth stimulus check as monthly $300 child tax credit payments continue.
Some states are already sending out a fourth check to all or a portion of their residents including California, Florida, and Texas.
The Biden administration is not currently looking to pass another Covid relief package but has instead concentrated its efforts on its infrastructure bill.
Who Is Eligible For The Program
In order to be eligible for the program, residents must:
- Live in the city of Chicago
- Must be 18 or older
- Have experienced economic hardship related to COVID-19
- Have a household income at or below 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level
Only one applicant per household can apply. According to the city, for household size, you should count yourself, your spouse, and any other family members who depend on you to cover most of their expenses .
The pilot is open to all residents of Chicago, regardless of your legal immigration status, the city says.
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Chicago Neighborhood Rebuild Pilot Program
The Chicago Neighborhood Rebuild pilot program aims to rehabilitate vacant homes and place at-risk youth in jobs. The program’s goal is to invest $6 million to acquire and rehab 50 vacant homes in Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, and Englewood through a partnership that will also provide transitional jobs and training opportunities for at-risk youth and ex-offenders.
The initiative is expected to generate employment opportunities for about 200 youth to maintian the homes until they are rehabilitated and sold. The funds will help to rehab single-family homes and two-flats in the 7th , 10th , and 11th police districts over the next three years.
A network of community organizations will ensure the program generates economic opportunities for local contractors, developers, and investors.
- The City will partner with the Cook County Land Bank Authority to acquire the vacant and abandoned properties.
- The Chicago Community Loan Fund will facilitate the acquisition of the properties by private developers and finance their renovations.
- The Community Investment Corporation will assist in acquisition efforts by identifying properties that meet the goals of providing affordable housing and building the capacity of local developers.
- The Safer Foundation and the CARA Program will provide classes and workshops that model successful behavior, including financial literacy and job training and placement.
For more information, please call Will Edwards at 312.744.0892
Service Facts
Application Deadline For $500 Monthly Chicago Cash Assistance Program Is Friday

Application deadline for $500 monthly Chicago cash assistance program is Friday
Friday is the final day Chicago residents can apply for the city’s $500 monthly cash assistance program.
CHICAGO – Friday is the final day Chicago residents can apply for the city’s $500 monthly cash assistance program.
The Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot program was created with the goal of providing families facing economic hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic with $500 monthly payments for 12 months to help them stay afloat.
The launch comes as people continue to reel from the pandemic on top of increasing costs of living. About 17% of people in the Chicago metropolitan area live below the poverty line, according to an analysis from the Census Reporter.
A recent report from the Greater Chicago Food Depository found that earlier this year, about 29% of Black households experienced food insecurity compared to 24% of Latino households and 11% of white households.
The city-run program will select 5,000 participants in a lottery to give $500 a month for a year. Residents who faced economic hardship because of the pandemic have until 11:59 p.m., Friday, May 13, to apply at chicago.gov/cashpilot.
You can start applying for Chicago’s $500 monthly cash assistance program on Monday
Chicago will hold a lottery to pick 5,000 people from the eligible applicants. They can spend the money on whatever they want. Natalie Bomke reports.
Residents can use the money for whatever they want.
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Critics Worry That Basic Income Can’t Address Large
Critics of basic income argue that free stipends would reduce the incentive for people to find jobs or encourage them to make frivolous purchases. Several studies, however, have suggested that cash benefits don’t keep people from entering the workforce.
After Stockton’s program ended in January, researchers found that it reduced unemployment and increased full-time employment among participants. Stipend recipients also reported improvements in their emotional wellbeing and decreases in anxiety or depression. Most of them spent their money on basic necessities like food and merchandise, including trips to Walmart or dollar stores.
Chicago Alderman Gilbert Villegas told The Washington Post that his city’s pilot will monitor how participants spend their stipends for the first six months. Depending on the results, the city may direct the stipends toward specific uses, such as covering heating bills or food.
Still, some members of the Chicago City Council were hesitant to back the program. Members of the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus argued that the money could be better spent on violence prevention or a reparations program. Alderman Nick Sposato, meanwhile, told Politico earlier this month that basic income is “a socialist idea that doesn’t consider the mainstream.”
Proponents of basic income still think it has the potential to reduce poverty on a national level.
The Concept Of Basic Income Has Been Talked About For Some Time Milton Friedman Was A Proponent Starting As Early As 1962 Where Did The Concept Originate And Why Has It Become More Widely Accepted In Recent Years
The idea of giving people some sort of a minimum income to survive on has been batted around going back centuries. I think Milton Friedman often is cited because his support for this idea is kind of counterintuitive. Hes a leading economist often associated with some of the more conservative economic approaches of the 1960s and 70s. There are some nuanceswhat Milton Friedman was advocating for was a negative income tax, where if you worked more, the amount of support from the government would actually decrease over time. Some of those policy design considerations do make a difference in the real world. But the idea that the best way to support people is to give them cash and get out of the way is something that has had appeal to both the left and the right.
The reasons interest in these programs is on the rise may come down to three things: inequality, automation, and issues with existing safety net programs.
The growth in income and wealth inequality in the United States is very well documented, and theres a growing sense thatparticularly with housing, health care and education costs increasing and outpacing wage gainssome other approach beyond just asking people to work is necessary to have a more inclusive society, where people can really lead lives of meaning and fully participate. Theres also just the recognition that a lot of people who work are struggling to make ends meet.
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The Pilot Is A Commitment From Mayor Lightfoot And The Department Of Family And Support Services To End Poverty And Put Residents At The Center Of The Citys Economic Recovery
CHICAGO Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Department of Family and Support Services Commissioner Brandie Knazze announced today that the first cash payments have been distributed to Chicago households through the Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot , the $31.5 million monthly cash assistance program to benefit low-income Chicago residents and families who have faced disproportionate economic hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CRCP is one of the largest monthly cash assistance programs in the nation, supporting 5,000 low-income households with $500 a month for 12 months to provide greater financial stability and support an equitable economic recovery. During the 3-week application window this spring, the City received more than 176,000 applications with at least 300 applications from all of Chicagos 77 communities.
The pilots selection lottery prioritized households living in poverty and those in communities with preexisting economic hardship. Five-thousand households that applied were selected through the lottery and invited to enroll in the pilot.
Selected participants met numerous eligibility requirements focused on supporting an equitable recovery from COVID-19, including having household income at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Line and having experienced a negative economic hardship due to COVID-19.
Analysis of the preliminary demographics and household characteristics of the residents selected by lottery for the pilot shows:
Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot Receives Over 176000 Applications Participant Selection Starts This Month
CHICAGO Today, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Department of Family and Support Services Commissioner Brandie Knazze announced over 176,000 applications were submitted for the Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot, the $31.5 million monthly cash assistance program to benefit low-income Chicago residents and families, who have faced disproportionate economic hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot will be one of the largest monthly cash assistance programs in the nation and will support 5,000 low-income households with $500 a month for 12 months to provide greater financial stability and support an equitable economic recovery. To be eligible, applicants must live in Chicago, be 18 years or older, have household income of less than or equal to 250% of the Federal Poverty Line, and have experienced a negative economic hardship due to COVID-19.
The 3-week application window was open from 9:00 a.m. Monday, April 25 to 11:59 p.m. Friday, May 13. On the first day alone, more than 100,000 people began an application.
“The fact that so many people from all over our city applied to this pilot underscores the need for us to innovate and reimagine how we uplift people and their communities,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “Putting cash directly into the hands of people who need it most is one of the most efficient and effective ways for us to support residents working hard to regain economic stability.”
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Apply For The Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot Program Deadline 5/13
Posted: April 28, 2022 in Uncategorized
The Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot is now accepting applications to receive $500 in cash assistance per month for twelve months.
Chicago residents who meet all of the following eligibility requirements are eligible to enter the lottery:
- You reside in the City of Chicago AND
- You are 18 years of age or older AND
- You have experienced economic hardship related to COVID-19 AND
- Your household income level falls at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level
The application will be available online until 11:59pm Friday, May 13 at chicagocashpilot.org. Visit www.chicago.gov/cashpilot to see if you are eligible and apply for the lottery.
Clear Path Relief Pilot Program
This program provides low-income motorists with relief for vehicle-related debt, excluding expired meter tickets. Benefits of CPR include:
- Pay off the original fine amount for tickets issued in the last 3 years and all eligible older debt will be waived.
- 50% reduction of new tickets issued within 365 days from down payment of debt relief payment plan.
- New unpaid tickets will not be assessed penalties until after December 31, 2023.
Applicants are required to have outstanding vehicle-related debt and be the registered owner of the vehicle associated with the debt. In order to qualify, an applicant has to be a member of a household currently enrolled in the Utility Billing Relief program or have a household income of less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines
Program Benefits
Eligibility
Motorists are required to have existing vehicle-related debt and
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Reside in a household currently enrolled in Utility Billing Relief or
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Have a household income less than or equal to 300% of the 2022 Federal Poverty Guidelines
Household |
Application Tool Kit
Apply Here
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What Documents Do I Need In Order To Apply
According to the city of Chicago, the application is expected to take 20-30 minutes to complete and is available in English, Spanish, Chinese , Arabic, Polish, and Filipino.
All applications must be submitted by the deadline in order to be considered for the lottery.
Applications will be asked to submit documents that provide identity, documents that prove your identity, date of birth, current residence in Chicago, and total household income.
Chicago’s Guaranteed Income Pilot Program To Begin In April With 5000 Low

CHICAGO — The city’s first ever guaranteed basic income program will launch in April, with a lottery to determine which 5,000 low-income families in Chicago will get monthly $500 checks for one year.
“Today’s announcement is all about supporting our residents who are still struggling to make ends meet,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement. “Our innovative, monthly cash assistance program will help to stabilize and ensure the wellbeing of residents that have been struggling both before and during the pandemic. I am dedicated to continuing to bring relief to our city’s hardest-hit communities and look forward to rolling out this new initiative as soon as possible alongside our newest fines and fees reforms and other Chicago Recovery Plan priorities.
The City Council approved a $31.5 million basic income pilot program as part of Lightfoot’s $16.7 billion budget plan for 2022, and the mayor announced Thursday the city will begin accepting applications for the program in April at chicago.gov/cashpilot. More information is available now at that website, including the option to sign up for an alert when applications are available.
To qualify for the program, residents must have lived in Chicago for at least one year, be 18 years old or older, have experienced economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and have a household income below 250% of the federal poverty level. That’s $57,575 for a family of three, according to the mayor’s office.
- In:
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$134b Lottery Winner Still Unknown And Some Say It Should Stay That Way
According to the mayor’s office, applications will be closely reviewed for eligibility. those that qualify will be placed into a lottery, where “5,000 households will be invited to enroll in the monthly cash assistance program.”
“Pending final verification, benefits counseling and successful enrollment, most households will receive their first payments at the end of June.”
All applicants will be notified about their status in the days after Memorial Day.
Here’s what else to know about the program
What Is The Application Process Like What Documents Do I Need
According to the city of Chicago, the application is expected to take 20-30 minutes to complete and is available in English, Spanish, Chinese , Arabic, Polish, and Filipino.
All applications must be submitted by the deadline in order to be considered for the lottery.
Applications will be asked to submit documents that provide identity, documents that prove your identity, date of birth, current residence in Chicago, and total household income.
Here’ how to start the application process.
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What Distinguishes The Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot From Other Universal Basic Income Programs
A number of programs or program models exist that are slightly different, but that often get lumped together.
The idea behind a universal basic income is that it is universal. Everybody gets it no matter how much money a person makes or whether they get up every day and go to work or take care of their family or something else. And the idea of it being a basic income is that its a minimum amount that’s needed to survive.
Guaranteed income, which is how I would classify this program, is different mainly in that it doesnt claim to be universal. So, it could be focused on specific or populations that we think might particularly benefit. Its not necessarily going to be universal, but it is providing unrestricted, unconditional, regular support.
Applications Now Open For City’s Guaranteed Basic Income Program Offering $500 A Month To Low
CHICAGO — Applications are open for a new city program meant to bring relief to Chicago families hit hardest through the pandemic. It’s one part of Chicago’s recovery plan to help communities bounce back.
The city’s so-called “Chicago Resilient Communities” pilot program will offer $500 monthly payments to roughly 5,000 low-income families for one year.
The City Council approved the $31.5 million guaranteed basic income program as part of Lightfoot’s $16.7 billion budget plan for 2022. It is being funded from the nearly $2 billion in federal COVID relief funding the city received.
Department of Family and Support Services Commissioner Brandie Knazze said there is a true need for this program.
“When you think about prior to COVID, 44% of employed Chicagoans could not make their basic needs met and so that means that they could not afford things like their rent, clothing, utilities, food,” Knazze said.
The city is touting it as one of the largest monthly cash assistance programs in the country, but you have to qualify in order to apply.
To qualify for the program, residents must have lived in Chicago for at least one year, be 18 years old or older, have experienced economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and have a household income below 250% of the federal poverty level. That’s $57,575 for a family of three, according to the mayor’s office.
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