Many residents in the Back of the Yards neighborhood discovered Monday that the Illinois Department of Human Services office on West Root Street closed. Some showed up to apply for food stamps and medical services but were turned away
"I had an appointment to reapply for benefits," said Back of the Yards resident Dalilah Yokum. "No one informed us, they knew a month ago."
"People are still desperately in need of these income support programs. And that when we pull an office out of communities, we are pulling something away from people that they desperately need," said Diane Doherty, executive director, Illinois Hunger Coalition.
The Illinois Hunger Association says a recent survey of local residents shows 51 percent of households in the Back of the Yards community don't have enough money for food.
