Discover Free Resources & Benefits Available to Chicago Residents
Find help with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, education, jobs, and more. All in one place, easy to search.
All Kids Health Insurance
🏥Health & MedicalComprehensive, low-cost health insurance for children covering doctor visits, hospital stays, dental, vision, prescriptions, and mental health services.
Who Qualifies
Must be a child age 18 or younger and an Illinois resident. Available regardless of immigration status or pre-existing conditions.
CTA Second Chance Program
💼Jobs & TrainingJob training and apprenticeship program for residents with significant barriers to employment. Offers skills, mentoring, and full-time work opportunities.
Who Qualifies
Open to residents facing employment barriers, including those with criminal records.
Career Exploration & Employment Preparation (CEEP)
💼Jobs & TrainingCity of Chicago program providing young adults with pre-apprenticeship services, job skills training, and placement support to create pathways to stable careers.
Who Qualifies
Must be a young adult between ages 18 and 24. Focuses on hands-on learning and career navigation.
Chicago Low Income Housing Trust Fund
🪪City ProgramsMakes rental housing more affordable by providing subsidies to landlords who then offer apartments at reduced rents for low-income residents.
Who Qualifies
Renters must meet income guidelines (typically at or below 30% AMI) and lease from a participating landlord.
Chicago Public Library Free Resources
📚EducationFree access to thousands of books, digital resources, computer labs, Wi-Fi, LinkedIn Learning courses, Ancestry.com, and more with a Chicago library card.
Who Qualifies
Free library card for all Chicago residents. Some digital resources available to anyone in Illinois.
Chicago Star Scholarship
📚EducationCovers tuition and book costs at any of the seven City Colleges of Chicago for eligible Chicago Public Schools graduates. A pathway to a debt-free associate degree.
Who Qualifies
Must be a CPS graduate with a minimum 3.0 GPA and meet other academic requirements. Must enroll in City Colleges within one year of graduating.