Poll: Half Of Chicago Households 'In Crisis' During COVID-19 Pandemic

Poll data show half of Chicago households, particularly Black and Latino families, face devastating financial problems because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Job losses and income hits amid the spread of the novel coronavirus has burdened many, leading to more than one third of residents using up most — if not all — of their savings. Others have fallen behind on mortgage and housing payments and delayed important bills to buy food.

The poll garnered 3,400 responses from New York, Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago from July 1 through August 3. It was published Wednesday (September 9), by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

More than 500 Chicagoans participated in the poll. Of them, 69% of Black households and 63% of Latino households reported financial issues. Responders in the three other major cities included in the poll reported similar results.

Parenting was reportedly also a widespread issue in survey responses, including securing childcare options and internet connectivity issues. Access to healthcare also posed serious problems, according to the study.

“The coronavirus outbreak has had unprecedented, widespread impacts on households across America,” the survey report states. “As the virus spreads around the country, outbreaks and the resulting economic shutdowns to contain its spread have caused problems in the lives of most households. However, the most severe economic and health impacts have been concentrated among a smaller group of households who are in crisis.”

“These findings raise important concerns about households’ ability to weather long-term financial and health effects of the coronavirus outbreak, as a large share have depleted their savings and are having major problems paying for basic costs of living, including food, rent, and medical care.”

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