The COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession has continued to deepen the hardships and existing inequities experienced by the people we serve. Too many of our community members have lost loved ones. And millions of Illinoisans and people across the country are struggling to get by — unable to afford enough to eat, pay bills, or keep up with the rent.
This crisis began in March and it is now December. Congress was only able to pass one relief package in all that time, and critical support to individuals and families is set to expire at the end of the month.
As a human rights organization dedicated to equity and opportunity for all, we urge our nation’s leaders to pass a true relief package now that will help people all over the country who are struggling to make ends meet. And we call for a recovery package that includes policy solutions that center equity and invest in BIPOC communities, which continue to be disproportionately and deeply impacted.
Our priorities for immediate relief and recovery include:
- Extending the CARES Act measures that have already expired or are set to expire on December 31, including the eviction moratorium, federal unemployment insurance expansions, and funding to state and local governments, which Illinois desperately needs in order to maintain critical supports that help our communities thrive, such as health and human services.
- Providing more inclusive, robust, and recurring direct checks to families so that they can meet their basic needs. Include people who were left out of the first round of checks, such as undocumented workers and people who are part of mixed-immigration status households. When extending additional payments, implement our recommendations in order to ensure that people who should receive payments do so quickly.
- Providing critical nutrition assistance to help families put food on the table by increasing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food assistance by 15%.
- Providing emergency rental assistance to help families stay in their homes.
- Invest now in an equity-centered national subsidized employment program that can quickly connect people to paid work when it is safe to do so. When the job market improves, this program should provide ongoing access to subsidized jobs for people who face structural barriers to employment.
Congress has an opportunity now to get help out to people all over our country who desperately need it. As we begin the winter and holiday season, let’s make things easier for people who are struggling and finally set our country on a path to recovery.
