COVID-19: Resources

COVID-19 Resources

It takes a village… information and community resources to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emergency Rent & Utility Assistance Programs and Information for Renters


Mortgage Forbearance Information for Homeowners


General COVID-19 Resources

Utilities

If your service is already off or you can not pay or you will likely not be able to pay, contact the utility company and assistance programs. Information about specific utilities and programs are below:

Food

Unemployment Benefits

Financial Assistance & Protections

Nonprofit Legal Assistance

Domestic Violence

Services for Immigrants

Childcare

Health

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Illinois Department of Public Health
  • Lake County Health Department
  • Cook County Health Department
  • Erie Family Health Center
  • IDPH has created a coronavirus hotline to answer questions from the general public and to take reports of suspected COVID-19 cases from health care professionals: 1-800-889-3931. It also has a text service to send out updates. Text “COVID” (“COVIDESP” for Spanish) to 312-500-3836 to sign up.
  • The Illinois Department of Human Services is operating a service to connect individuals struggling with the stress of COVID-19. If you or a loved one are need support, text TALK to 552020 for English or HABLAR for Spanish. This service is free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People seeking assistance will remain anonymous and will provide only their first name and zip code, which enables the service to link you to a counselor in your area who is knowledgeable about available local resources.
    Text the following words to 552020 for corresponding purpose:
    “TALK” for counselor in English
    “HABLAR” for a counselor in Spanish
    “FOOD” for information about food banks
    “UNEMPLOYMENT” for the latest information about unemployment
    “SHELTER” for information about housing

Education 

The Illinois State Board of Education has put together a page to answer questions and another with suggested e-learning resources. Here are some additional free online educational resources from reputable companies:

  • We Love Illinois Schools podcast – The Illinois State Board of Education has started its own podcast to support educators and education.
  • National Geographic Kids – Science and history focused articles and activities.
  • Kahn Academy – Free online lesson plans; requires registration.
  • PBS Kids – Educational videos and games, with a focus on younger learners.
  • PBS Learning – Educational videos, lesson plans, and other resources for all grade levels.
  • BrainPOP – Educational resources on all topics with a focus on elementary-school age students; requires registration.
  • DuoLingo – Free language learning; requires registration.
  • I Civics – Civics and government-related games focused on middle-school and high-school students.
  • Scholastic – Reading-based activities for Pre-K through 9th.
  • Smithsonian for Kids – Educational games and articles for people of all ages.
  • NASA Kids Club – Space related articles and activities, primarily for younger learners.
  • Storyline Online – Story books for younger children read aloud by celebrities.
  • Prodigy Math – Math curricula and activities for K-8th graders; requires registration.