SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Corrections and Illinois Department of Human Services have announced that individuals in custody in Illinois Department of Corrections facilities across the state are eligible to submit pre-release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP applications. The program began as a pilot at Logan Correctional Center in 2020. The goal is to improve access to benefits for individuals upon release who are unlikely to have the resources necessary to ensure food security. Within 10 days of release, IDOC staff assist individuals with the completion and submission of an application, and if approved, will issue a Link card upon release.
“It is no secret that successful reentry begins with the ability to meet basic needs such as food security,” said Latoya Hughes, Acting Director of IDOC. “SNAP benefits are among the most vital services needed for returning citizens establishing stability and moving towards self-sufficiency. We are grateful to IDHS for partnering with us to expand SNAP access in our facilities so formerly incarcerated people can survive and thrive while rejoining their communities.”
