Actions and Resources
Introduction
Find existing programs and connect with organizations to support the health of your home, community, or business.
On this page
On this page
In your community: Report Unsafe or Illegal Conditions · Plant a Tree · Replace Impervious Surfaces · Transportation · Food Access · Land Access · Clean Up · Report Standing Water
At home: Plant a Tree · Grow a Garden · Energy Efficiency · Flooding and Standing Water · Indoor Air Pollution · Water Quality · Soil Quality · Waste · Disaster and Flood Insurance · Home Upgrades and Restoration Programs
For businesses: Solutions · Disaster Relief
Community - Report Unsafe or Illegal Conditions
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Make a complaint/report | |
| 311 | City of Chicago |
| Citizen Incident Report | Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) |
| EnviroReport app | Chicago Center for Health and the Environment (CACHET) |
| Air Pollution Complaint | Neighbors for Environmental Justice (N4EJ) |
| Pollution Complaint | Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) |
| Report an invasive insect | University of Illinois Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program |
| Contact elected officials | |
| Contact your alderperson | City of Chicago |
| Learn more about your alderperson | Councilmatic |
| Contact other elected officials | Illinois State Board of Elections |
| Attend a city council meeting | City of Chicago Office of the City Clerk |
| Contact a tenants-rights organization | |
| Metropolitan Tenants Organization | Metropolitan Tenants Organization |
| Create a tenants union | |
| All Chicago Tenants Alliance contact information | All Chicago Tenants Alliance |
| Get legal support | Law Center for Better Housing |
Community - Plant a Tree
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Tree request form | City of Chicago |
| How to get trees planted in your neighborhood - Openlands | Openlands |
| Free tree program | Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) |
| Chicago Region Tree Initiative | Morton Arboretum |
Community - Replace Impervious Surfaces
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Depave Chicago Propose a Project | Depave Chicago |
Community - Transportation
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Bikes | |
| Request bike parking | City of Chicago |
| Divvy for Everyone | Divvy Bikes |
| Bike Crash Support | Active Transportation Alliance |
| Report a blocked bike lane | |
| 311 | |
| Bike lane uprising | |
| Public transportation | |
| Reduced and Free CTA Ride Programs | Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) |
| Pace Reduced and RIDE Free Programs | Pace Bus |
| Pace bus stop appeal form | Pace Bus |
| Discounted Fare and Free Ride Programs | Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) |
| Become a Back on the Bus volunteer | Active Transportation Alliance |
| Electric vehicles | |
| Illinois Electric Vehicle Rebate Program | Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) |
| Electric Vehicle Charger Rebate | ComEd |
Community - Food Access
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Community Gardens and Urban Farms | |
| Chicago Urban Agriculture Mapping Project | Chicago Urban Agriculture Mapping Project |
| Chicago Park District Community Gardens | Chicago Park District |
| Find Community Gardens | NeighborSpace |
| Food resources | |
| Find Food Pantries | Greater Chicago Food Depository |
| Link Match map | Experimental Station |
| About Link Match | Experimental Station |
| Garden resources | |
| Grow Your Groceries | Chicago Grows Food |
Community - Land Access
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Apply to start a community garden | NeighborSpace |
| Apply to purchase vacant lots | ChiBlockBuilder |
| Urban agriculture land access | City of Chicago |
Community - Clean Up
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood Clean Up | Trash People |
| Adopt a Beach | Alliance for the Great Lakes |
Community - Report Standing Water
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| 311 | |
| Cook County Department of Public Health |
At Home - Plant a Tree
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Tree request form | City of Chicago |
| How to get trees planted in your neighborhood - Openlands | Openlands |
| Free tree program | Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) |
| Chicago Region Tree Initiative | Morton Arboretum |
| Tree planting guide | Chicago Botanic Garden |
| Call before you dig (811) | City of Chicago |
At Home - Grow a Garden
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Invasive species | United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) |
| Plants | |
| How to Deal With Invasive Woody Plants | Morton Arboretum |
| Guide to invasive plants | Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) |
| Insects | |
| Report an invasive insect | University of Illinois Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program |
| Spotted lanternfly | Illinois Department of Agriculture |
| Emerald ash borer | Illinois Extension |
| Native plants | |
| Illinois Native Plants Guide | Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) |
| Chicago Native and Pollinator Garden Resources | City of Chicago |
| Edible plants | |
| Edible plants map | Falling Fruit |
| Growing vegetables | Illinois Extension |
| Grow Your Groceries | Chicago Grows Food |
| Find seeds and plants | |
| Find a seed swap near you | Illinois Extension |
| Seed libraries at Chicago Public Libraries | Chicago Public Library |
At Home - Energy Efficiency
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Energy Efficient Homes | Illinois Extension |
| Funding programs | |
| Energy Efficiency Programs | Chicago Bungalow Association |
| Green Homes Chicago (currently closed) | City of Chicago |
| Home Weatherization program (financial support for sealing, insulation, heat system repair) | Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA) |
| Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program | Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity |
| Home Upkeep and Repair For Seniors | Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) |
| Healthy Homes for Healthy Families | Elevate |
| Solar panels | |
| Homeowner’s Guide to Solar Energy | Illinois Extension |
| Solar installation and permit process | City of Chicago |
At Home - Flooding and Standing Water
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Flood mitigation | |
| Rain barrels | City of Chicago |
| Discounted rain barrels | Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) |
| Rain gardens | Chicago Botanic Garden |
| Green Neighbor Guide | Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) |
| Green roofs | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Is My Home Rain Ready? Quiz | Center for Neighborhood Technology |
| Rain ready resources | Center for Neighborhood Technology |
| More resources | |
| Chicago Green Alley Handbook | City of Chicago |
| Documenting damage | Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) |
| Stormwater Calculator | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Mosquito-Borne Diseases | City of Chicago |
| Assistance Programs | |
| IL Flood Damage Relief Program | Chicago Sun Times |
| Flood Assistance Repair Program | City of Chicago |
| FEMA Assistance | Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) |
At Home - Indoor Air Pollution
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Indoor Air Quality Guidelines | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Indoor Air Quality | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Improve indoor air quality | |
| Build a Corsi-Rosenthal Air Filter | Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation |
| Improve indoor air quality | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Improve indoor air quality | Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America |
| Portable Air Cleaner Sizing Tool | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health |
| Reduce radon levels | Centers for Disease Control (CDC) |
| Testing | |
| Get a radon test kit | Illinois Emergency Management Agency |
| Get a free radon test kit | Cook County Department of Public Health |
At Home - Water Quality
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Test your water | City of Chicago |
| Lead service line inventory | City of Chicago |
| Lead service line replacement program | City of Chicago |
| EPA Drinking Water Quality Report | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
At Home - Soil Quality
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Test your soil | Illinois Extension |
| Heavy metals in soil | Illinois Extension |
| Contaminant Map (includes lead contamination in soil) | Map My Environment |
At Home - Waste
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Food waste | Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) |
| Chicago Food Scrap Drop Off | City of Chicago |
| Home Compost Resources | Illinois Extension |
| Hazardous waste | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Center for Hard to Recycle Materials | Cook County |
| Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling | City of Chicago |
| Site Clean-Up & Hazardous Material Disposal | City of Chicago |
At Home - Disaster and Flood Insurance
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| About flood insurance | Center for Neighborhood Technology |
| Illinois Department of Insurance | State of Illinois |
At Home - Home Upgrades and Restoration Programs
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Healthy Homes for Healthy Families | Elevate |
| Cook County Lead Inspection and Repairs | Cook County Department of Public Health |
Business - Solutions
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Green Roofs | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Energy | |
| Solar Panels | Energy Information Administration |
| Solar installation and permit process | City of Chicago |
| Illinois Shines program | Illinois Power Agency |
| Chicago Building Permit Calculator | City of Chicago |
| Energy Efficiency | |
| ComEd Small Business Program (free energy assessment and tailored energy efficiency plan) | ComEd |
| Flood prevention | |
| Stormwater Calculator | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Indoor air pollution | |
| Indoor Air Quality Guidelines | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| EPA Indoor Air Quality | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Improve indoor air quality | |
| Build a Corsi-Rosenthal Air Filter | Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation |
| Improve indoor air quality | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Improve indoor air quality | Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America |
| Portable Air Cleaner Sizing Tool | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health |
| Reduce radon levels | Centers for Disease Control (CDC) |
| Testing | |
| Get a radon test kit | State of Illinois |
| Funding | |
| Chicago Infrastructure Fund | City of Chicago |
| Businesses Reducing Impact on the Environment (BRITE) Program | Cook County |
Business - Disaster Relief
| Resource | Source |
|---|---|
| Disaster Recovery Program | US Small Business Administration |