The Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) Commissioner Brandie Knazze announced that the first cash payments have been distributed to Chicago households through the Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot (CRCP), the $31.5 million monthly cash assistance program to benefit low-income Chicago residents and families who have faced disproportionate economic hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The CRCP is one of the largest monthly cash assistance programs in the nation, supporting 5,000 low-income households with $500 a month for 12 months to provide greater financial stability and support an equitable economic recovery. During the 3-week application window this spring, the City received more than 176,000 applications with at least 300 applications from all of Chicago’s 77 communities. Selected participants will receive $500 cash payments every month for the next 12 months via direct deposit into their bank account or through a prepaid debit card. In order to ensure selected participants can use the monthly cash assistance to best support their household needs, the City of Chicago strategically designed the pilot to provide flexibility and choice for households through unrestricted payments.  For more information on the CRCP, visit chicago.gov/cashpilot.