Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois.
Several services are offered to the needy by the Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois. Staff will meet with those that qualify and provide them information on, and maybe direct, assistance for various needs. The agency covers a few different counties in Illinois, including DeWitt, Fulton, Logan, Mason, Menard, and Piatt.
The non-profit and the Community Services Program and resources they offer from it is arguably the key service provided. Case managers, partnering with participants, will perform many tasks to meet the needs of the poor, unemployed, and less fortunate. While the availability of resources and the specifics of what is offered will vary by county, the organization will do its best to help individuals or provide them with valid referrals.
Basic needs and financial assistance from the Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois
Depending on the center, they may be able to help qualified low income families with the following. Or ask for referrals or suggestions if they can’t assist.
- Eyeglasses are available in Mason and Menard County. In partnership with Lenscrafters, low-income clients and uninsured clients can receive glasses and eye exams free of charge.
- Rental assistance is available from the Continuum of Care Homeless Prevention program and/or FEMA grants. This depends on what county someone lives in.
- All Kids is a form of health care in Illinois for children. Apply for this at a local non-profit community action agency in central Illinois.
- Telephone assistance is available from Safe Link Phone Applications. The staff in all counties can enroll low income families and individuals in this federal government sponsored free phone service program.
- The Small Business Loan Program will promote small businesses and overall economic development. The agency may be able to issue funds at a competitive interest rate to businesses that will create jobs.
Holiday assistance is available at Christmas, with a focus on children from low income families. The Angel Tree and Toys for Tots provide free Christmas gifts, toys, or clothing children in all of Community Action's counties, including DeWitt and Logan. Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets and meals are also available.
School assistance includes backpacks, clothing, uniforms and more school supplies for Logan, DeWitt, Piatt and Menard County Illinois. While more limited, scholarships are provided to low-income individuals of high academic potential and/or merit students to further their education.
Other basic needs include the Food Stamp Outreach Project. Staff from the local Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois office can help people apply for SNAP food stamps. They screen applicants, work with other agencies and pantries, and offer general support. Other items provided may include personal items such as shampoo, clothing, furniture, household items, soap, and paper goods.
Seniors can also get help from the Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois. The main resource provided is known as Senior Nutrition. It will help the elderly remain independent, meet their nutritional goals, and stay healthy.
There are congregate meal sites in which a lunch is served for a few dollar donation. However even if you can’t pay, no senior will be denied. It is for those that are 60 years of age and older and most counties, such as Fulton, Menard, and DeWitt Illinois, have these sites.
A local home delivered meal service is also available. Volunteers and staff serve low cost, hot, nutritious meals to seniors and the elderly that qualify every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Many individuals from central Illinois who receive meals from the non-profit community action agency are homebound because of mental impairment, illness, physical or a disability.
Social services support includes Information and Referral or case management. This is available to low-income families to help these families reach their goals and obtain self-sufficiency. Or get referrals to other services needed if the community action agency can’t meet your needs.
Head Start centers are located in the region. The federal support program can assist preschool children and their families that meet income levels. The Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois is involved in administering this in Piatt, DeWitt, Logan, Menard, Mason, and Fulton County.
The program provides opportunity for children to develop cognitively, socially and emotionally with age-appropriate activities and materials. Not only that, Head Start will help meet the physical needs of the growing child. This can include them receiving free nutritious meals daily and getting help with basic medical or dental needs. These health screening assessments will address medical, vision, dental, hearing, and speech needs. Sessions are help in a classroom and there is also a home-based option in Menard County.
Energy programs
The Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois runs weatherization in the region. Call a local outreach office for information. Studies show that most homes waste energy and therefore money. So weatherization can provide, at no cost, the following to those that qualify. Homeowners can get repair or replacement of windows and doors, cracks sealed, and insulation.
Another benefit is that weatherization services can address your heating and cooling system or furnace too. Any work needed on your furnace may include cleaning and tuning, retrofit, and the repair. Or if the unit is in too poor shape, it may just be replaced.
Heating, cooling, and other utility bill assistance may be available from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. This is targeted at low income households that pay a large percentage of their income for their energy costs and that also meet low income limits.
The Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois processes application, even though funding for it comes from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and the federal government. For those that qualify, the LIHEAP program will give them one-time cash benefit / grant, and this is offered to low income households, the elderly and disabled. Funds may pay for natural gas, heating oil or electricity.
For those with a disconnect notice or that are about to run out of fuel or oil, the emergency assistance component of LIHEAP is an option. This is available in central Illinois if your household is disconnected from an energy source. During emergency situations, emergency assistance will be provided some times as soon as 48 hours from the date the client application is complete and approved.
Another resource offered by LIHEAP is furnace repair or replacement assistance. As funding allows, this is for DeWitt, Fulton, Logan, Mason, Menard, and Piatt Illinois. It can help those that do not have an operating furnace. The program may pay for repair, tune up, or replacement.
Any grants or funds from LIHEAP, no matter which version of it, will be one time only. An application will need to be completed each year.
The Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois locations are as follows.
Dewitt County, Countryside Apartments, 1700 E. Main #105, Clinton, IL 61727, (217) 935-2455
Logan County, 1800 Fifth Street, Lincoln, IL 62656, (217) 732-2159
Mason and Fulton County, 301 South Dale Drive, Havana, Illinois 62644, call (309) 543-6988
Menard County center is at 1118 North Fourth Street, Petersburg, IL 62673, dial (217) 632-3137
Piatt County office is located at 1115 North State Street, Suite 102, Monticello, Illinois 61856, dial (217) 762-2421
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