Posted on Jan 22, 2026

NLEN Campus Closed January 23; Staff Working Remotely Due to Extreme Cold Warning

The City of Chicago is under an Extreme Cold Warning from 3:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Friday, January 23rd, due to dangerously low temperatures and wind chills as low as 30 degrees below zero across central Cook County. These conditions can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes, and dangerous cold is expected to persist throughout the day.

For the safety of our staff, clients, vendors, and community partners, NLEN’s campus is closed to in-person activities on Friday, January 23rd. This includes NLEN offices and programs, the Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) Resource Room, the Sweet Beginnings offices and production room, and the beelove® café.

NLEN and Sweet Beginnings staff will be working remotely on Friday. We will welcome clients and café guests back to our campus once we reopen, and will ship out any beelove® orders as soon as our social enterprise staff return to campus.

If you are a current client with a scheduled meeting with your Client Solutions Specialist or with an FOC team member, an NLEN staff member will contact you to reschedule your meeting or meet with you by phone or virtually via Zoom.

FOC office hours for Energy Assistance applications will resume on our next open business day, from 9:30 AM–2:30 PM. Clients can find up-to-date information on our energy and utility assistance resources, eligibility, and documentation requirements on our website: https://nlen.org/support-services/resources/

We encourage everyone to stay safe, stay warm, and check on neighbors, elders, and loved ones during this period of extreme cold. Chicago residents can call 311 to request well-being checks for elderly or vulnerable individuals and to find the nearest warming center.

• City of Chicago Warming Areas information (via 311 and the City’s online tools) provides current locations and hours for city-operated warming sites, including community service centers and other designated facilities. | https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fss/provdrs/serv/svcs/extreme-weather-resources.html
• City of Chicago Warming Centers map and data portal list official warming center locations across the city. data.cityofchicago
• Cook County Warming Centers include additional sites that may open or extend hours during extreme cold.cookcountyil

Because locations and 24-hour status can change with each weather event, residents should call 311 or check the City of Chicago warming areas information online before traveling to a site.

Heat rights and emergency support

• The Chicago Heat Ordinance requires residential and commercial buildings to maintain safe indoor temperatures during cold weather months.
• If you are without heat, contact the Law Center for Better Housing and use the Rentervention tools to understand your rights and get help with next steps.

Staying safe in extreme cold

• Limit time outdoors; if you must go out, dress in warm layers, including a hat, face covering, and gloves or mittens to protect exposed skin.
• Protect your home by keeping heat on, allowing faucets to drip slowly if needed, and wrapping exposed pipes to prevent freezing and bursts.
• Keep pets indoors as much as possible during extreme cold and limit their time outside.