At The Friendship Center, we know that food insecurity is not a standalone problem. We provide Public Benefits and Resources appointments onsite and over the phone for neighbors in need of additional supports.
Meet with Community Resource Coordinator, Jannat Hossain
for 1:1 assistance navigating SNAP, Medicaid and other free or low cost resources in the city.
Languages: English, Bengali, Urdu, and conversational Hindi
We are coordinating volunteers to provide additional translation services.
Please fill out this quick form to let us know what services you are interested in learning more about during your appointment. Additionally, if your appointment is during pantry hours, you will be able to shop before or after your appointment.
The Friendship Center maintains active partnerships with over 40 organizations across the city and is continually seeking new partnerships that would be meaningful to our neighbors. Please reach out if you would like more information about our services.
How to Prepare for the Changes to the SNAP eligibility on February 1, 2026:
– Ensure your SNAP profile is updated, with the correct income and household size.
– Determine if you need to meet new work requirements by February 1, 2026, or if you are exempt.Â
– Use the IDHS screener tool to check your work requirements.
As of Fall 2024, we are able to provide direct assistance with SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and DHS redeterminations/renewals.
We are able to provide referrals or additional information for free legal assistance, immigration assistance, behavioral health care, support for survivors of DV, ACA and Medicare enrollment, ESL/computers/job training courses, and more.
We are not able to assist with eviction, employment, SSI/Disability benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, or direct financial help/personal grants.