At LIFT-Chicago, we know that the best way to build economic mobility is to invest in families. We partner with parents of young children to build financial strength, personal connections, and personal well-being, to break the cycle of poverty. We call this an investment of Hope, Money and Love and is a radical response to systems built on a lack of trust and respect
The federal decision to freeze childcare and social services funding in Illinois threatens stability and pathways to mobility. These are the same families who, just months ago, endured the government shutdown and had their SNAP benefits frozen. Parents told us how stressful it was not knowing when food assistance would return and how hard it was to stay focused at work while worrying about basic needs. Now, before families have had time to recover, another essential support is being put at risk.
Parents cannot work, go to school, or build careers without knowing their children are safe and cared for. When childcare funding is frozen or threatened, hope turns into fear and uncertainty.
Money is about more than income; it’s about stability. Even a short-term disruption in childcare funding can mean lost wages, missed shifts, or losing a job altogether. For families already balancing tight budgets, one disruption can set off a chain reaction that leads to debt, housing instability, or reliance on emergency support that have already been cut. Progress toward economic mobility is fragile, and these freezes put families at risk of falling backward.
Love is constant. Parents will always do everything they can to provide for their children. But love alone cannot fill the gaps left when the systems in place fail to provide essential services. Parents should not have to choose between staying at home with their children and putting food on the table and unraveling months and years of hard work.
Families need systems that work with them, not against them.
Call to Action
LIFT-Chicago joins Raising Illinois in calling on Congress to act now. We urge lawmakers to conduct immediate oversight, demand transparency from HHS, and protect the uninterrupted flow of childcare and social services funding to Illinois. Parents deserve reliable support so they can keep working, caring for their children, and keep moving toward the future they are building.
We also call on decision-makers to listen directly to parents. Their stories make clear what data alone cannot: when funding is frozen, families pay the price.