In light of a shifting economy that has left many families struggling over the course of the last few decades, policymakers must consider ways to ensure that Illinoisans are able to support their families during hard times and then set them on the path toward self-sufficiency, with the ultimate goal of creating opportunities for families to build wealth to get ahead in the future. Doing so will create strong, stable, and secure families and communities across Illinois.

Browse the pages below to learn more about how the Self-Sufficiency Standard can be used to illustrate that economic security relies on a combination of earnings, supports, and assets and how the Self-Sufficiency Standard provides a useful lens for poverty measurement discussions.

Income Supports

Workforce Development

Asset Building

Meauring Poverty

The Social IMPACT Research Center's Illinois Self-Sufficiency Project is made possible through the generous support of the Grand Victoria Foundation and the Chicago Foundation for Women.