Emergency Financial Assistance

If you or someone you know is facing a housing crisis, follow the steps at the bottom of this page or start here.

Homeless Prevention

All Chicago provides critical, flexible financial support to individuals and families who are unhoused or at risk of losing their housing. By bridging the gap during a sudden financial setback, we stabilize households in Chicago’s most vulnerable communities and prevent short-term emergencies from becoming long-term crises.

In 2026, All Chicago adopted a new approach to our emergency financial assistance program, focusing our efforts on neighborhoods with the greatest need. This new approach was developed during a rigorous pilot phase beginning in 2025. Learn more about the pilot program here.

This new model focuses funds in 15 focus neighborhoods where eviction happens at the highest rates in Chicago. We have broadened the scope of allowable expenses, using risk of eviction indicators as eligibility criteria. We have lifted the cap on the amount of a single financial assistance request per household. All of these changes are designed to increase the impact of every dollar we spend.

What We Do

We strategically blend State Homeless Prevention Funds with private Emergency Financial Assistance to resolve housing emergencies quickly. Depending on a household’s specific needs, our flexible funding can assist with:

• Rent or mortgage payments

• Security deposits

• Utility bills

• Other emergency housing costs

How to Get Help

If you or someone you know is facing a housing crisis, follow the steps below.

• By Phone: Call 311 and ask for short-term assistance.

• In Person: Or contact the nearest participating agency listed below.