Programs and Services
Hunger Hotline
The IHC Hunger Hotline provides bilingual services to low-income households through its statewide toll-free Hunger Hotline.
Callers are assisted in applying for: the Supplemental Nutrition Service (SNAP), All Kids, Medicaid, Medicare, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
IHC also offers referrals for:
-Supplemental Nutrition for Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC)
-Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Programs (LIHEAP)
-food pantries and meal programs/soup kitchens
-child care
-housing assistance
-senior nutrition and health programs
-other federal child nutrition programs: Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Meals on Wheels, and At Risk After School Child Nutrition Programs
Case Management Services are provided to callers inappropriately denied services from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS).
Callers are educated about their rights and responsibilities, eligibility, and are assisted through the application process as necessary.
As a result of individual and systemic problems identified through calls to the hotline, IHC advocates with local and state administrators at IDHS-Health Care and Family Services (HFS) offices to identify and address barriers to access to nutrition programs. These concerns are also addressed through the Community Quality Council (CQC) meetings addressed by the IHC.
SNAP Outreach and Enrollment
The SNAP Outreach and Enrollment Team provides assistance with SNAP and Medical applications, and screens people for eligibility to social safety net programs in English and Spanish. The IHC does outreach at at the City Colleges of Chicago and colleges and universities in Southern Illinois, as well as food pantries, health fairs, courthouses, the Cook County Sheriff's Day Reporting Center, and other public community events throughout the state.
Please contact the IHC to schedule an outreach event!
The IHC also trains community providers and consumers on SNAP enrollment and eligibility rules, best practices, in-depth policy, and on-the-ground implementation.
