Budgeting for your service year
IN CHICAGO
In addition to a biweekly living stipend, you’ll receive free healthcare coverage, a transportation allowance, and deferment of your student loans during your AmeriCorps service year. To help you envision how to make your budget work, we’ve offered some resources below about living in, and getting around, Chicago.
Living affordably in Chicago
Wondering where many of our College Possible AmeriCorps coaches live? Many of our AmeriCorps members find that living with a roommate is one of the most affordable options. Depending on your unique needs, consider housing that is located within walking distance to mass transit, and has good safety and walkability scores.
Looking for a roommate?
You’ll have a chance to meet fellow incoming coaches before the school year begins for more roommate possibilities. Local Facebook groups are a great way to find roommates. You can also check out Roomster, Roomi, Diggz and Silvernest, apps offering roommate matching and house sharing services.
Getting to work
Getting to the Chicago site is a breeze with public transportation. Our office is located three minutes walking distance from the Brown Line stop. A majority of our staff utilize the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for their daily commute.
The Metra is also available for train rides from the suburbs into the city. Chicago is also a bike-friendly city, and even offers affordable bike share rentals through Divvy Bikes at just over $10/month. You can even get a Divvy Bike + Lyft subscription for exclusive discounts on Lyft rides.
Chicago Millennium Park
Two walkers on Chicago's riverwalk trail
Jogger on Chicago lakefront trail in summer
Chicago Millennium Park