IHC organizes in low-income, multi-racial and immigrant communities to create policies that promote economic and racial equity and to educate policymakers about the loss of federal funds due to low rates of participation in federal income support programs. One in eight Illinoisans now receive SNAP and in Jan. 2010 the number of individuals participating in Cook increased to 829,500, in DuPage 46,400 and in Lake there were 46,700 participants. In January, Cook received $120,165,398,11 in SNAP dollars. IHC successfully advocated for the use of AARA funds to hire IDHS staff and convinced USDA to review access to SNAP at local offices. In 2002, IHC worked with U.S. Senator Durbin to secure $1.4 billion to restore SNAP to immigrants. IHC's grassroots victories include the crafting and passage of two state mandates, one requiring low-income schools to establish breakfast programs, and one requiring schools with summer school to feed any child in the area if 50 percent or more of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. IHC secured $8 million in state funding to provide fiscal incentives for schools to offer breakfast. IHC advocacy ensured that individuals could automatically register to vote on their SNAP application. IHC mobilized a broad coalition to support changes in the Farm Bill and for the first time, families with retirement and education savings accounts are eligible for SNAP and workers are able to deduct the full amount of child and dependent care costs.

The Illinois Hunger Coalition is a membership organization that seeks to alleviate and end hunger in Illinois through public education, community organizing and advocating for progressive public policies.

Through AHA and CQC, IHC trains advocates to promote greater access for nutrition and income support programs that help increase the disposable income of families and bring much-needed federal dollars to impoverished communities. In January of 2010, 1,609,560 Illinoisans benefited from $228 million in federal SNAP funds. IHC organizes CQC in 13 IDHS offices in Cook, DuPage, Lake, and Kankakee, and in offices covering 28 southern counties. The CQCs, chaired by IHC and IDHS, bring together community groups, providers, food banks and pantries, medical clinics, public schools, domestic violence shelters, homeless organizations, and IDHS staff and administration. Through CQC and AHA, IHC organizes over 150 community-based organizations, townships, and regional groups in Chicagoland, as well as the Legal Assistance Foundation, the Sargent Shriver Center, and immigrant and disability organizations. AHA meets regularly with the IDHS Secretary to ensure that offices reflect the makeup of the local community that bilingual staff is available, and policies are implemented to increase participation in SNAP. Latinos Organized for Justice (LOJ) IHC's leadership development program organizes churches in the Back of the Yards to promote equity at the local, state and federal levels. LOJ parents are organizing LSC and parents in CPS, to expand universal classroom breakfast (USB) by implementing IHC's City Council resolution calling for school breakfast in the classroom for all CPS students. In 2009, there was a 41% increase over 2008 in breakfast participation and 180 schools offered USB. Members from all IHC programs participated in the Revenue Budget Coalition and educated policymakers about the need to address the state budget crisis. Between April 2008 and April 2009, IHC's Hunger Hotline experienced a 98% increase from callers asking for help from its bilingual staff who provided case management for families to obtain and maintain their public benefits. The issues raised by callers inform IHC policy and advocacy efforts. As a result of IHC mandates, more students had the opportunity to receive free meals at their school year-round: the SFSP mandate resulted in a 30% increase between June 09 and June 08 and 1.5 million meals were served to children in 363 Chicago schools during the summer of 2009. IHC and the Regional Director of USDA co-chair a summer food work group that includes CPS, Department of Family and Support Services, Catholic Charities and ISBE. The group develops strategies to increase the number of children in SFSP and to identify low-income areas in need of sites open to any child. IHC provides leadership to Putting IL to Work; if approved, more than 11,000 jobs will be provided with the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund.