Cook County assistance programs.

Find resources and programs to help with bills and expenses

Find information on various charities, non-profits, and also The Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc. This is one of the largest community action agencies and private non-profit organizations in the country. Over 200,000 residents are assisted each and every year. They offer Chicago and Cook County residents over thirty different assistance programs. Some of them include employment and job training, help for utility and heating bills, housing assistance, child and family development, health and nutrition services, food aid, senior citizen programs, economic development, housing services, community development, and education services.

All of these services immediately below are offered by the Community Action Agency of Cook County. At the bottom of this page find other programs and resources.

Housing Assistance - There are several different resources and options offered by the community action agency that people have including  Comprehensive Housing Counseling, Minor Home Repairs and Painting Assistance, Rental and Mortgage Assistance, Home Maintenance Seminars, Foreclosure Counseling, Housing and Community Outreach Project, Affordable Housing Project, Veterans Housing, Emergency Shelter, and Transitional Housing.

Assistance Resolving or Preventing Foreclosure, Mortgage Delinquency and Default Counseling - They offer one-on-one and group counseling in the following housing areas. Programs focus on assisting clients that need foreclosure assistance, they provide help to people that are affected by predatory lending, offer foreclosure prevention and education, and they work with homeowners to pursue loss mitigation strategies. They also offer programs to help restructure debt, seek loan forbearance, establishing reinstatement plans, managing household finances, and loan modification. They can refer residents to Illinois foreclosure prevention programs.

In addition to the options and resources listed above, Cook County has also recently created a mediation program. Learn more.

Locating, Securing, or Maintaining Residence in Rental Housing, Including Rent Help - This service helps clients utilize and obtain rent subsidies in market rate housing, transitional and public housing, helps people with budgeting for rent payments, education on client’s and landlord’s rental rights and explaining the eviction laws and process and rights that people have.

 

 

 

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - The federal funded LIHEAP program, which is administered by the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc. was designed to aid eligible low and moderate income households with paying for winter heating bills. Assistance is provided in the form of one-time grants and payments to utility and gas companies that are applied directly to the household’s energy bills. While the amount of the grant will vary, the amount of the payment will be  determined by household size, income, geographic location, and fuel type.

Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) - The Community and Economic Development Association Weatherization program is offered year-round, and it helps people reduce their heating and utility bills.  Employees of the community action agency will audit your home using state-of-the-art technology, and determine what improvements your home needs. They will then install, for free, energy saving improvements to your home. The goal is to make homes more energy-efficient for qualifying low and middle income clients who live in Chicago and suburban Cook County. Some of the home improvements of weatherization include repairs or replacement of heating systems, installing safety and health equipment, the sealing of air bypasses and other drafty areas in the home, additional wall, attic, basement, and crawl space insulation. These measures will save energy and money for homeowners and help them keep their homes warmer during the winter and cooler during the summer.

ComEd Residential Special Hardship Fund - In particular with the weak economy, ComEd understands that some of its customers are experiencing hardships with paying their energy bills. The ComEd Residential Special Hardship Program runs from January 1 until the programs funds are depleted. The program will provide a one-time cash grant of up to $1,000 for residential ComEd customers with household incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level provided they can document a hardship case.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program: This was created to help unemployed workers, adults, as well as young workers learn new skills and find employment.

• Adult Program: Adults receive a variety of assistance and job training, primarily in the medical and health care field. Programs offered to people include training in medical billing, pharmacy technician, EKG technician, phlebotomist and also a certified nurse’s assistant (CNA). Placement services, on-the-job training, pre-employment skills training, dislocated worker services and grants, and linkages to other job finding services are also available.

Credit Counseling - They also recognize it is important for people to deal with outstanding debt, including credit card and medical debt, in order to become self sufficient over the long term. So various debt settlement, budgeting, debt management and counseling plans can be discussed.

While the main office of Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc. is located at 208 S. Lasalle, Suite 1900, Chicago, IL they have several other locations throughout Cook County, including in Berwy, Robbins, Summit, and more. Call them at (312) 795-8844 to learn about resources and services they may have for your situation.

 

 

 

Housing Assistance

• Foreclosure prevention - Lake County Housing Case Management can help people both looking to buy their home, and also stop a foreclosure in Chicago. The agency offers first time home buyers' education and access to funding. They also provide foreclosure prevention counseling as well as mortgage default assistance. Last, but not least, the agency can provide individuals with budget and debt counseling for clients experiencing financial difficulties and  hardships. (847) 782-4000.
   
• Chicago and Cook County - The city of Chicago and Cook County have non-profit agencies and neighborhood service organizations that administer programs that provide mortgage and foreclosure help. Learn more.
   
• Another non-profit agency is Catholic Charities of Chicago. Phone number is (847) 782-4000. The organizations has locations throughout Cook County, and they offer many assistance programs. They run a food pantry, provide housing assistance, general counseling, and much more.
   
• Cook County Salvation Army (773-725-1100) administers several different assistance programs. As the agency has funding, they may help people pay heating and utility bills, rent, provide holiday assistance, and free food.
   
• Another HUD agency to turn to for mortgage and foreclosure help is Neighborhood Housing Services. This non-profit agency offers access to several foreclosure programs. Learn more.
   
• Some mortgage companies, such as Fannie Mae, have also opened counseling/help centers in Chicago. Click here to find information on Fannie Mae.
   
• ACORN Housing Corporation - Chicago, which can be reached at 312-939-1611, offers foreclosure prevention services to Cook County homeowners. They can even provide information on such programs as the Illinois hardest hit loan program.
   
• Programs such as the Home Ownership Preservation Initiative (HOPI) provide borrowers in the area with services. Learn more about free foreclosure assistance in Chicago.
   
• MAC House Wilmette - Phone number (847) 271-8669. This organization provides sliding scale rent assistance as well as funds for utilities for families and individuals in crisis or hardship situations.

Credit counseling and mortgage help in Chicago and Cook County

Some of the non-profit agencies that may provide Chicago and Cook County consumers with debt reduction and foreclosure prevention programs include:

Get one on one counseling from a credit or mortgage counselor from Consumer Credit Counseling of Greater Chicago. Call them at (888) 527-3328. They offer face to face, phone, and internet services. Get access to debt and credit counseling, budgeting, financial management, foreclosure prevention, and bankruptcy advice.

Great Lakes Debtors Anonymous is another debt and credit counseling agency based in Buffalo Grove Illinois. Phone 312-409-2222.

Find the phone numbers, addresses, and details on the services offered by additional credit counseling agencies across Chicago and Cook County.

Emergency Assistance

• Financial assistance - Two agencies to turn to for aid include the Society of St. Vincent De Paul (312-655-7181) as well as Lake County Emergency Assistance Program ((847) 782-4100). These two non-profit charity agencies offer access to a wide range of assistance programs. Applicants may be able to receive funds to pay energy and heating bills, rent assistance, and access to food and other household items.
   
• Emergency Fund - For almost 40 years the fund has provided a safety net and social services for Chicago's neediest residents. Our financial assistance program provides help to persons in need of free food, shelter, heating and utility bill payments, prescription medication and other items. Many social service agencies distribute funds to low-income individuals and families in Chicago and Cook County. Call (312) 379-0301 or click here for more information.
   
• Water bill payment plans - Customers who are faced with a shut off can enter into a payment plan or even find grants and cash assistance for paying water bills. Read more.

Cook County Illinois assistance programs and agencies that also cover the state

Many agencies and assistance programs cover the entire state of Illinois, including Cook County and Chicago.

• Illinois section 8 housing
• Illinois HUD foreclosure counseling
• Illinois mortgage and foreclosure assistance
• Illinois free food banks
• Illinois free community clinics
• Illinois heating and utility bill help
• Illinois free legal assistance
• Illinois dental clinics and centers
• Illinois medical debt collection laws

Job training and Employment Opportunities

• Lake County Family Self-sufficiency Program - Low to moderate income families and also single parents can get help finding a job in Chicago from this agency. Participants in this self-sufficiency program will receive job training, education, employment assistance, resume assistance, case management, computer access and counseling for up to five years as they learn to achieve and maintain an independent, self sufficient lifestyle. And having a secure, stable job is a priority so people can provide for their families. (847) 223-1170
   
• Career Resource Center (phone (847) 295-5626) is a regional, nonprofit career transition center that provides job seeking services and professional assistance to adults and others who are seeking employment. They have a team of professionals and counselors who empower job seekers and the unemployed by offering education, training, resume review, career counseling and mentoring.

Health Care

Some places and clinics to turn to in Cook County and Chicago include the following:

• Access Community Health Network: This facility has a variety of health programs and resources that are affordable. ACCESS services are comprehensive and will meet the needs of low income and other struggling families. 866-882-2237
   
• The Children’s Clinic: This organization is a place that patients in need of medical help can find top quality medical and health care. You and your child can expect to be treated with a high level of professionalism and mutual respect from health care providers. Receive dental care for your child as well. Dial (708) 848-0528
   
• A number of other not for profit hospitals and government qualified health and dental centers operate in Chicago and Cook County. Find details on other Chicago community clinics.

 

 

Pro Bono legal services

• If you can’t afford an attorney, the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation may be able to help. They provide pro bono legal representation of individuals and other clients from the ranks of the city of Chicago area's poor, unemployed and working poor. Volunteer lawyers resolve non-fee-generating family, housing and foreclosure, consumer debts, probate, tort, immigration, government benefits and miscellaneous legal cases. Dial  (312) 332-1624 to learn more about legal programs, or click here.
   
• Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, which can be reached at (312) 341-1070,also offers free legal advice and representation. Thousands of low to moderate income, elderly, unemployed, and others are helped by LAF each and every year. The non-profit law firm will help those cannot afford legal counsel navigate the court system.

Food pantries and food banks

Project HOPE serves the Cook County and Barrington region of Illinois. They provide emergency food vouchers, groceries, and access to a food pantry for low income residents. Phone 847-381-5721.

Child programs in Cook County Illinois

The Community and Economic Development. Association of Cook County (phone (845) 292-5821) also runs the Head Start and Early Head Start program. This is a child and family development program, that can both help Chicago Illinois and surrounding area families provide food, nutrition, and also health and dental care to their children. Specifically get nutrition, access to day care, child development, mental health, and a number of social services.

City of Chicago

If you live in the city of Chicago, find additional services and resources that are for the Chicago area. Click here to learn about these options.