Food assistance need grows 12% in Illinois since 2019

By Lauren Zuar

02/19/2025

Nearly 2 million Illinoisans, with around half in Cook County, relied on federal food assistance in October 2024, marking a 12% increase in five years.

TAGS: SNAP

Over 1M Illinois families to get federal help with Thanksgiving

By Patrick Andriesen

11/25/2024

Over 1 million Illinois families will put turkey on the table this Thanksgiving with the help of federal food assistance, including more than half of the households in Pulaski and Alexander counties.

TAGS: food stamps

Over 1 in 7 Illinoisans get food assistance

By Patrick Andriesen

11/01/2024

Nearly 2 million Illinoisans – or more than 1-in-7 – received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in July 2024. One-quarter of county offices reported more than 1-in-5 residents received food help.

TAGS: SNAP

Food assistance rises, with nearly 2M Illinoisans getting benefits in June

By Patrick Andriesen

10/04/2024

Nearly 2 million Illinoisans – or nearly 1 in 6 – received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in June 2024. The number of Illinoisans needing federal help with groceries was the highest since September 2023.

TAGS: SNAP

Nearly 2M Illinoisans receive federal food assistance in May

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

08/29/2024

Nearly 2 million Illinoisans – or nearly 1-in-6 state residents – received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in May 2024. Illinois ranked No. 9 in the nation for highest rate of federal food help.

TAGS: SNAP

Nearly 2 million Illinoisans get food benefits, up 13.5% since 2019

By Patrick Andriesen, Jon Josko

08/08/2024

Nearly 2 million Illinoisans – or more than 1-in-7 state residents – received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in March 2024. Alexander and Pulaski counties led the state with 34% of residents receiving SNAP benefits.

TAGS: food stamps, SNAP

How public programs can penalize workers earning more

By Aayush Goodpaty

06/25/2024

Families trying to escape poverty are sometimes worse off with greater incomes because of benefits cliffs hidden in public programs.

Utah makes life easier for job seekers; Illinois can, too

By Chris Coffey

06/21/2024

Utah consolidated and integrated government job and social services into a one-stop shop. Illinois can follow that example and efficiently pull more people out of poverty and into the working world.

TAGS: employment

Report: Low-income scholarship students score better than public school peers

By Hannah Schmid

03/08/2024

A report shows low-income students receiving Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarships were more proficient in reading and math in nearly every grade in 2023 than low-income students in Illinois public schools. Their high school reading bested statewide scores.

TAGS: Invest in Kids

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Food assistance need grows 12% in Illinois since 2019

Over 1M Illinois families to get federal help with Thanksgiving

Over 1 in 7 Illinoisans get food assistance

Food assistance rises, with nearly 2M Illinoisans getting benefits in June

Nearly 2M Illinoisans receive federal food assistance in May

Nearly 2 million Illinoisans get food benefits, up 13.5% since 2019

How public programs can penalize workers earning more

Utah makes life easier for job seekers; Illinois can, too

Report: Low-income scholarship students score better than public school peers

Common-ground solutions to empower Chicago’s poor: A model for America’s cities

Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students