Responding Now to the Cost of Living crisis
OUR MISSION
Respond Now connects those in need with health, hunger, and housing services in the Chicago Southland.
We do this by:
- Helping people through their temporary emergencies with financial assistance
- Providing food to families and individuals in need
- Providing sound referrals and counseling for other needed services
OUR VISION
At Respond Now, our vision for
everyone in the Chicago Southland has access to food, housing, and health care as is their human right.
Core Values of Respond Now:
- People will be treated with dignity, respect, and without judgment.
- Respond Now will provide compassionate services, helping people in need.
- The work of Respond Now will demonstrate the utmost integrity and trustworthiness.
- Staff will be collaborative and competent.
- Respond Now will be accessible to all stake-holders, including community members, volunteers, and donors.
OUR CLIENTS
The 22 communities Respond Now serves the south suburbs are stricken with the highest levels of poverty and unemployment in all of suburban Chicago. Recent studies show that nearly half of families living in these areas deal with food insecurity on a regular basis, representing more than 760,000 residents. Foreclosure rates in our service area are some of the highest in all of suburban Cook County. Some of clients have recently been laid off while others live on fixed incomes, finding it difficult to make ends meet. Still others struggle with disability and inadequate services. Most urgently, 30% of area children are living below the poverty line.