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Methodology

Data Compilation

The data compiled and visualized on this data transparency site is restricted to active Chicago Recovery Plan programs. Programs that are not funded through the Chicago Recovery Plan are outside the scope of this project. The transparency site is updated on a quarterly basis with any new data generated since the prior quarterly update.

Program data is provided by multiple departments operating Chicago Recovery Plan programs. Individual persons are not identifiable using this site and no attempt should be made to do so. The transparency site is intended for public information purposes only. This data is presented as provisional and no guarantee is made about its accuracy or currency. Modifying any information presented on this site is prohibited.

Count of total residents served

The count of total residents served reported on the Overview page of this site is calculated as the sum of residents served by each individual CRP-funded program that has reported data on number of participants. It should not be interpreted as the number of unique residents served, as there is no de-duplication of residents participating in more than one CRP program.

Similarly, the Residents Served page summarizes participation across multiple CRP programs and does not reflect a unique, unduplicated resident count.

Geographies

Data displayed on this site is visualized at one or more of the following geographies: community area, ward, ZIP code, and police district. The availability of aggregated data at each of these geographic levels varies from program to program. As a result, some programs can be shown on all four map types, while others can only be shown on one type of map.

If a program does not appear on a geographic summary page (i.e. the Austin community area page), it does not necessarily mean that the program is not active in that geography. It may be the case that program data was not available for that specific geography. Navigate to a specific program's page (in the "Programs" drop-down menu) to view the different map types available for that program.

COVID-19 Vulnerability & Economic Hardship Levels

The Overview page of this site includes a map showing COVID-19 vulnerability and economic hardship rankings for each of Chicago's 77 community areas. COVID-19 vulnerability rankings are derived from the Chicago Department of Public Health's COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index (CCVI), while economic hardship rankings are derived from UIC's 2022 Economic Hardship Index (EHI). Higher scores/rankings in these indices correspond with higher levels of COVID-19 vulnerability and economic hardship. The map on this site assigns community areas to a combined COVID-19 vulnerability & economic hardship category as follows:

Highest: Ranked among top 25 communities on both CCVI and EHI
High: Ranked among top 25 communities on either CCVI or EHI
Medium: Ranked 26-50 on both CCVI and EHI
Low: Ranked 51-77 on both CCVI and EHI OR
ranked 51-77 on one index and 26-50 on the other.

Chicago COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index

The Chicago Department of Public Health's COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index (CCVI) identifies communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and are uniquely vulnerable to barriers to COVID-19 vaccine uptake. The higher the CCVI score, the more vulnerable the geographic area. Vulnerability is defined as a combination of sociodemographic factors; epidemiological factors; occupational factors; and cumulative COVID-19 burden. Using data from the American Community Survey and the Healthy Chicago Survey, the CCVI takes into account the following ten factors:

  • % individual poverty
  • % 16+ unemployment
  • % per capita income
  • % 25+ no HS diploma
  • % uninsured
  • % population 17 and under
  • % living with disability
  • % crowded housing
  • % single-parent households
  • % with no primary care provider

More information on the CCVI is available here.

University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Economic Hardship Index

Economic hardship levels are derived from UIC's 2022 Economic Hardship Index (based on data from 2016-2020). The Great Cities Institute at UIC created the index as a tool to show the extent and difference in economic and social hardship in a given community area relative to other community areas. Higher hardship index scores indicate worse economic conditions. The Economic Hardship Index takes into account the following factors:

  • Unemployment (over the age of 16 years)
  • Education (over 25 years of age without a high school diploma)
  • Per capita income level
  • Poverty (households below the poverty level)
  • Crowded housing (housing units with more than one person per room)
  • Dependency (population under 18 or over 64 years of age)

More information on the Economic Hardship Index is available at https://greatcities.uic.edu/.

Demographic Data

This site displays demographic data from two different sources:

  1. Data on race, ethnicity, and age of City program participants collected by the City and its delegate agencies and displayed on the Resident Overview page.
  2. Data on race, ethnicity, age, and income of City residents overall, collected by the U.S. Census Bureau and displayed in the Demographic Profile section of each summary page for individual community areas, wards, ZIP codes, and police districts.

Race & Ethnicity Data

The City of Chicago largely follows the US Census Bureau's race and ethnicity groupings when collecting demographic data on City program participants. Currently, the US Office of Management and Budget is in the process of revising the existing race/ethnicity standards from the federal government’s perspective. The CRP Transparency website will evolve as federal standards and community input dictate. For example, the City is exploring the possibility of adding a Middle Eastern/North African (MENA) race group and further disaggregating the Asian American race group. For more information, visit the Office of Equity and Racial Justice at Chicago.gov/Equity.

Race and ethnicity chart labels on this site correspond to the following US Census Bureau race and ethnicity groups:

Chart label | Census group
White | White, Not Hispanic or Latino
Black or African-American | Black or African-American, Not Hispanic or Latino
Asian | Asian, Not Hispanic or Latino
Native | American Indian and Alaska Native, Not Hispanic or Latino
Islander | Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, Not Hispanic or Latino
Hispanic or Latino/a/x | Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
Multiracial | Two or More Races, Not Hispanic or Latino
Other | Some Other Race, Not Hispanic or Latino