Will County assistance programs.

Find resources and programs that can assist you will bills

If you are one of the millions of Americans struggling to make it by in this weak economy, you may be able to find help from local non-profits or the community action agency. The goal of the Will County Center for Community Concerns is to assist both low and moderate income families and individuals in Joliet and Will County. They help them obtain the resources they need to make it through short term emergencies, and at the same time provide them with resources that are needed to prepare themselves for self-sufficiency over the long term.

Some of the programs offered are below. The Will County Center for Community Concerns is located at 304 N. Scott Street, Joliet, IL 60432, and the phone number is 815.722.0722.

Grants and Funds for crises and Emergency Services
The Emergency Services Program will provide assistance and possibly grants to families or individuals who are facing an imminent eviction. They can also aid people who are threatened to have their water, utility, sewer, or heating service disconnected.

Illinois Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
This federal government funded program was created to assist Will County and Joliet low and moderate income households with paying for winter heating and summer cooling bills.

• The LIHEAP program will provide a one-time cash grant/benefit to qualified households, and the funds are to be used for paying energy bills. The amount of the grant provided to an applicant is determined by household income and the size of the family. An shutoff notice or overdue energy bill is not required to apply. In addition, you do not have to own your home or be responsible for paying energy bills directly to be eligible for LIHEAP. Your source of fuel also does not have to be electricity or natural gas in order to receive assistance. This assistance provided to qualified applicants may be either paid as:
   
• A one-time cash grant that is paid directly to your gas and/or electric company.
   
• In addition, the Illinois LIHEAP program also includes an Emergency Furnace Component that will either replace or repair non-operational home heating systems.

 

 

 

Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program
Reduce your heating bills and receive free upgrades. Low income Will County residents will reduce their energy bills, save fuel and also conserve energy while increasing the comfort of their homes. The Program evaluates and will upgrade a homeowners heating system, insulation of exterior walls, floors, and attic areas, caulking, weather-stripping, and more.

Mortgage and Housing Counseling
The Mortgage and Housing Counseling Program will provide counseling and training to low-income renters and home owners. Some of the resources offered to them include Mortgage Default help, landlord/tenant relations, budgeting, family and life skills, debt counseling, foreclosure prevention services, Pre-Purchase, Homebuyers Education, Pre-Foreclosure, and HECM (Reverse Mortgage), and Post-Purchase support. Find other Illinois foreclosure programs.

CSBG Scholarship Program
If you need help for school or paying for an education, the CSBG Scholarship Program awards grants and scholarships each year to low-income and disadvantaged students of high academic potential or achievement. Students who apply need to be enrolled or enrolling in an institute of higher education somewhere within the state of Illinois.

Prescription Drug Assistance
Get free medication or save on your prescriptions from the Prescription Drug Assistance Program. People can get vouchers for prescribed medications, and they can be used by qualified clients at participating pharmacies for free or discounted medications. Click here to find more information on medications.

Employment Support and Help finding a job
The Employment Support Program will assist Joliet and Will County heads of households with either obtaining or maintaining employment with such items as transportation, daycare, and even work supplies and clothing.

 

 

 

All of the services mentioned above are operated by the Will County Center for Community Concerns. Phone 815.722.0722.

 

Programs for rent and housing help

Daybreak Center provides emergency assistance and cash grants that can be used for food, heating bills, rent expenses, etc. and more. The aid is available in order to prevent homelessness and utility service disconnections, and it also offers Transitional Housing for single mothers and parents in the community. (815) 774-4663. It is run by Catholic Charities of Will County and Joliet Illinois.

Will County and Joliet Illinois Salvation Army

This local branch of the Salvation Army ((815) 726-4834) provides help to Will County and Joliet families in the form of financial assistance, housing and mortgage counseling, food, and related support services to those in need of help and they also run a community center youth program. Call the firm at (815) 727-5123, or learn more about Illinois legal advice.

Legal Aid

If you can’t afford an attorney, non-profit law firms exist in the area that may be able to provide you with free advice and court representation. Prairie State Legal Services/Will County Legal Assistance has attorneys and other legal professionals who can offer free help. The programs are provided without charge to help low to moderate -income persons, the elderly, and seniors resolve important civic legal problems such as stopping family abuse, preventing foreclosures and evictions as well as preserving housing and similar urgent needs. (815) 965-2134.

Financial assistance for rent, heating, and utility bills, as well as free food

Catholic Charities runs a service known as Daybreak Center. It is fairly extensive, and both offers its own financial assistance and resources, and they are a great place to call for referrals. Some of the programs offered include.

• Emergency Services/Homelessness Prevention Program -This provide financial assistance for paying rent and/or mortgage. Find additional ways to get mortgage assistance.
• Free food - Get access to groceries and food vouchers.
• Clothing, household items, and furniture.
• Health assistance, in particular funds for prescriptions and information on medical programs

Funding is limited, but call them at 815-774-4663

Will County Community Development Division of Land Use - Helps administer the government Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). This can provide financial assistance to people to help them stay in their homes and prevent an eviction. Also get help for security deposits and other housing expenses. Joliet Illinois. Phone (815) 774-7894

Several other options exist for housing and rent help. Read more Will County rent assistance.

Will County assistance programs and agencies that help anyone in Illinois

Get information on programs and services that help anyone across Illinois, including in Joliet and Will County Illinois.

• Illinois HUD foreclosure prevention counseling
• Illinois section 8 housing
• Illinois heating and utility bill assistance
• Illinois mortgage and foreclosure programs
• Illinois food banks
• Illinois free legal assistance
• Illinois free community clinics and health care centers
• Illinois medical debt assistance
• Illinois free dental clinics

Medical care

If you are low to moderate income, do not have health insurance or if your coverage is limited, the Will County Community Health Center offers high quality, free or low priced preventive and primary health care services to the medically under served individuals and families of Will County. (815) 727-8670.

Aunt Martha's Youth Service Center is a private, not-for-profit organization that provides comprehensive health care, medications, and social services for family members of all ages. Medical care is offered to all who qualify, regardless of age. (815) 768-8750.

Will County Community Health Center offers both primary and preventive health care services to the medically under served, unemployed and low income patients of Will County and Joliet Illinois regardless of age, sex, color or their ability to pay for the medical bills. They also help with dental needs. Find other ways to get help with medical bills, or call them at (815) 727-8670 to make an appointment.

Last, but not least, the Will-Grundy Medical Clinic ((815) 726-3377) can also help the underinsured and others on a limited income. It provides comprehensive dental and medical care to the uninsured residents who meet income guidelines and have no other access to health care or the ability to pay for it.

Catholic Charities (phone number above) also provides financial assistance for prescriptions and medications. 815-774-4663

 

 

Child care expense assistance

A local non-profit, Child Care Resource and Referral, helps Will County Illinois families and individuals in locating childcare, it will also help eligible families with paying for their childcare bills, provides consultations to childcare providers regarding early childhood issues, and the organization also offers professional opportunities for childcare providers. Dial (815) 741-1163.

Senior programs

The Peter Claver Center ((815) 722-6361), which is headquartered in Joliet, serves low income people who are 50 years or older. It provides them with educational opportunities, humanitarian assistance, recreational services, and job training and placement.