CHICAGO, Ill. – Nearly two million Illinoisans statewide and over 12,000 residents in the 19th House District on SNAP benefits endured major disruption to food support during November due to the federal government shutdown and the administration’s refusal to release emergency funding. As the shut down ends, the Illinois Department of Human Services is set to distribute the full amount of benefits by November 20th. However, even with the government shutdown behind us, many SNAP recipients struggle with food access due to low benefit amounts, high grocery prices and long lines at local food pantries. For singles, the maximum monthly SNAP benefit is $298 per month while the income limit is $2,071 per month. The minimum benefit for those with incomes hovering near the maximum eligibility is $23 per month.
Major changes to SNAP are coming in future months and years due to Congressional action via H.R.1 (i.e., the “One Big Beautiful Bill”) signed into law on July 4th.
- The most immediate changes of work requirements for able bodied adults ages 19-64 go into effect December 1st, 2025, with a March 2026 deadline. Many groups previously exempt from work requirements, including veterans, parents with children age 14 & older, people experiencing homelessness, and older adults over the age of 54, will now be subject to work requirements.
- From a state budget perspective, HR1 shifts some costs of actual SNAP benefits from the federal government to the states for the first time in the program’s 60 year history, currently estimated at a $705 million cost shift from the federal government to the State of Illinois. Additionally, although the federal government has historically covered 50% of the administrative costs for SNAP, HR1 decreases this coverage to 25%, costing the state $80 million per year. These changes, in addition to new work requirements, require the Illinois Department of Human Services to grow capacity for administrative work to the tune of 250 full time equivalent employees, costing an estimated $20 million.
“HR1 puts up roadblocks for our neighbors on the far Northwest Side to effectively and efficiently access the food support they rely on to live,” said Representative LaPointe. “I’m deeply concerned that our local food pantries will be overloaded, with longer lines of people waiting outside as the weather gets colder. An estimated 25% of people will lose benefits due to federal changes and this means 3,000 area residents. It’s also maddening that the State is forced to spend more money on bureaucracy and administrative work to meet the requirements of HR1. Our valuable state dollars should be going to things like direct food support, public education and property tax relief – to name a few – instead of building up the bureaucracy as the feds shift costs to the states. No one should go hungry in the richest country in the world.”
Ahead of the holiday season and as SNAP changes begin, State Representative LaPointe and team coordinated with local pantries and partners to create a centralized guide of nearby food pantries and regular hot meals available to far Northwest Side neighbors. These local organizations and groups, primarily run by volunteers, are the backbone of the hyper local safety net. The following is a list of local area food pantries:
- St. Cyprian’s Food Pantry (6535 W Irving Park Road), Open Mondays & Thursdays 9AM – 11AM
- Irving Park Community Food Pantry (4256 N Ridgeway Avenue), Open Wednesdays 9AM – 12PM
- Polish American Association (4808 W Berenice Avenue), Open Tuesdays 10AM – 2PM
- New Hope Community Food Pantry (6125 W Foster Avenue), Open Mondays & Tuesdays 8AM – 11AM
- Joined Hands Food Pantry (5224 W Agatite Avenue – Our Lady of Victory Parking Lot), Open Wednesdays 5PM – 7PM
State Representative LaPointe and team are also highlighting “Love Fridges”, considered mutual aid, where local community members can stock public fridges and anyone can access food for free, no questions asked. The following is a list of local area ”Love Fridges”:
- Storehouse Church (5701 W Montrose Avenue) – open 24/7
- Friendship Community Place (5150 N Northwest Highway) – open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3PM – 5PM
- St. John’s Episcopal Church (3857 N Kostner Avenue) – open 24/7
For the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, Representative LaPointe and team are highlighting two places where neighbors can go for a holiday meal on November 27th, both free and open to the public. The Joined Hands Food Pantry will host at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Portage Park (4939 W. Montrose Ave), serving dinner from 12PM to 4PM. St. John’s Episcopal Church in Old Irving Park (3857 N. Kostner) hosts a Thanksgiving meal at 1PM. Please call 773.725.9026 to make a reservation for St. John’s Episcopal. Walk-ins are also welcome.
“It’s essential that we come together to keep our food pantry shelves filled,” said Representative LaPointe. “If you can give, we ask that you step up to volunteer, donate, or raise awareness of the need or where to find support. Whether it’s dropping off donations, helping with food distribution, or volunteering for a grocery pick-up, we appreciate every one of you who is taking action to ensure that none of our far Northwest Side neighbors go hungry in the face of these SNAP changes. We are forever grateful to our longtime food pantry leaders and volunteers.”
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