April 15, 2020- The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) is taking another step to protect its staff and residents of Illinois by temporarily closing 11 Family Community Resource Centers (FCRCs) to the public, starting Thursday, April 16. In ordinary times, IDHS operates 75 FCRCs, the public-facing offices’ individuals and families can use to secure essential nutrition, income, and medical supports. The goal is to ensure that all eligible residents can receive life-sustaining benefits while protecting the safety and health of all staff and customers.
“This is not a decision we make lightly. However, we have to balance the urgent needs of residents facing hunger and poverty with extremely serious public health directives. Even as many IDHS offices close, our State’s safety net remains available,” said IDHS Secretary Grace B. Hou. “Please know that every local office has an urgent call team available to respond right away to emergency cases.”
IDHS continues to encourage all customers to apply for and manage their benefits online at www.ABE.Illinois.Gov and to call the IDHS Help is Here toll-free line at 1-833-2-FIND-HELP. IDHS will keep both its customers and employees updated as to office re-openings in the weeks ahead.
Since March 29, 14 of Illinois’ 75 public-facing FCRCs remained open, with a reduced workforce and a variety of safeguards in place to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. As of today, 11 local offices remain open. Three (in Rockford, Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood and in West Suburban Melrose Park) were recently closed out of an abundance of caution following positive COVID-19 tests of staff employed in those offices.
Staff who usually work in the public-facing FCRCs will work remotely to process important benefits, and about 180 ABE (Access to Benefits Electronically) call center agents will be taking calls from customers across the state. IDHS is also exploring making non-public “back offices” available to IDHS staff who find themselves unable to work from home due to technology limitations – so casework and telephone support can continue to the maximum possible extent.
The department has developed each of its significant local office changes throughout the COVID-19 emergency in strong partnership with AFSCME Council 31, hunger relief and disability rights advocacy organizations across the state.
More information about COVID-19 is available at www.CoronaVirus.Illinois.Gov and through the COVID-19 Hotline, at 1-800-889-3931.
Public Service Announcement urging IDHS to use online and phone resources: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/agency/media/radio/Pages/psa.aspx
and http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=123673
Map of the Family Community Resource Center Locations: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=123570
