Community and Economic Development Association programs in Cook County.
The leading non-profit agency that operates in Cook County is CEDA, or the Community and Economic Development Association. Sometimes they offer direct financial help for bills such as rent or electric and they also offer free food, passes to the ‘L’, job programs and more. Find how to get help from community action in Cook County.
This organization provides some form of assistance to tens of thousands of families per year. In addition to grant money, in some cases referrals are provided to state of Illinois or federal government resources. Some examples of what may be offered by CEDA is below..
Head Start for kids in Chicago area
Head Start and Early Head Start are the main federally funded school readiness programs available anywhere in Illinois. Among other things, they were created in an effort to enhance child growth and development. The programs offer education services, health care, nutrition, food, and other social services. Most of the services offered from Early Head Start and/or Head Start are for pregnant women, infants and children under the age of 5. Assistance is also offered for infants and toddlers with disabilities. There is no cost to the parents or for those families that are accepted into Early Head Start or Head Start.
Parents of the Cook County children will also need to participate and can receive benefits from Head Start. After all the parent(s) are the key to the child’s over leading and development. So CEDA will arrange health, employment assistance (if needed), education and self-sufficiency goals for the parent as well.
CEDA emergency financial assistance programs and case management
The Community Services Block Grant is what is used to provide for a number of services for low income families and those facing poverty. After all, the goal of Community and Economic Development Association is to stabilize and support families and get them on the road to stability.
Before proceeding, an intake and assessment process is in place. This will develop an action plan and arrange for ongoing case management to those that qualify. If found to be qualify, you may be able to receive additional financial assistance from CEDA, as noted below.
- Vision assistance can include exams, free eyeglasses, and maybe contacts. There are other options as well for free glasses for the uninsured and low-income.
- Automobile repair assistance is very limited. This program will only be a possibility if a car is needed to improve self-sufficiency, such as for employment, job training, or continuing education in Cook County.
- Food programs and family nutrition is supported by Community and Economic Development Association. CEDA partners with local food banks as well as the Greater Chicago Food Depository pantry to ensure families and children get the items they need.
- Healthcare and free dental services may be offered in the form of prescription medications or equipment. This is for the low-income and uninsured in Cook County too. Dental vouchers may be issued for an extreme need.
- Scholarship programs may be very rarely offered. Or the non-profit may have referrals to these. While they are rare, applicants need to have demonstrated academic achievement, career potential and educational motivation, among other things.
Credit Counseling from Community Action helps people in Chicago and the county with their debts. CEDA 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, financial management and counseling plans can be discussed. Read more debt settlement type programs.
Transportation assistance in Chicago is for clients that need help to get to a job, interview, or work situation may be given a free bus pass or ticket to the “L” metro system. Or there are also referrals to free car programs for the low-income in Chicago, gasoline vouchers and similar local rides. Or get help to fix a car or truck in Cook County.
Employment assistance and job training
Several job training programs are administered by Community and Economic Development Association, often in partnership with local non-profits and state resources.
SNAP Employment & Training Program's can help improve an individuals work skills and career prospects. Case managers will help people find a job, participate in training, help with GED, resume-writing and interviewing classes. Some financial assistance can even be provided to pay for work related expenses such as clothing expenses, suits, or transportation to work or training. To learn more, call the Illinois Department of Human Services' Family Community Resource Center or dial 1-800-843-6154.
Work First employment assistance and job training is available for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). It can help individuals with job search, find employment in Cook County, and also help them keep that job. This is part of Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program which will help unemployed workers, adults, as well as young workers learn new skills and find employment.
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 linkages to other job finding services are also available. Or look here for other part time, side hustle jobs.
Some of the services that may be offered as par of Work First include the following. Clients can receive assessments, case management and follow up, linkages to hiring employers, and much more. The training will help them gain valuable employment skills as well. If funding is available, assistance may be offered for child care, transportation, and even work clothing.
Energy bill assistance and conservation
Applications for the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program are processed by Community and Economic Development Association. This will help low income families in Chicago and Cook County make their homes more energy efficiency and therefore reduce their monthly utility bills. The 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. More on free furnace replacement near you.
When possible, weatherization provides the home with safety and health updates as well. So what may be provided includes repairs or replacement of heating systems, crawl space insulation, the program seals air bypasses and other drafty areas, increases attic, wall, and floor insulation. For people that are LIHEAP approved, or someone else in your household receives Transitional Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Aid to the Aged Blind & Disabled (AABD), then that income will qualify them for this program.
Heating or air conditioning bill assistance may be arranged by the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Grants can be issued from CEDA by this federally funded program to assist income-eligible households with winter energy services. A one time payment will be issued. This with a medical condition or the very old may receive grants for paying their cooling bills during a hot summer weather stretch. All aid is contingent on the applicant being found qualified and funding levels. Other assistance is provided in the form of one-time grants to electric, utility or gas companies that are applied directly to the household’s energy bills
Other energy programs in Cook County are as follows. Case managers from CEDA can advise clients on these and/or provide phone numbers and more information.
- ComEd Residential Special Hardship Fund runs from January 1 until the programs funds are depleted. The program will provide a one-time cash grant for low-income customers with household incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level provided they can document a hardship case. More on help with ComEd bills.
- Nicor Gas Sharing Program is a program of last resort for the low income that are ineligible for state or federal energy assistance programs. A grant can be issued to help pay for their utility bills.
Food programs in Cook County
The Summer Food Service Program will ensure children and students receive meals, food, and snacks during the summer months. This will mainly benefit those who otherwise depend on free school lunches. The meals provided by CEDA can include breakfast, lunch and snacks and they are served at dozens of food pantry locations in Cook County and the Chicago area.
The Meals on Wheels Foundation of Cook County (MOWF) is also referred to as the Community Nutrition Network and Senior Services Association (CNNSSA). The elderly and their spouses may receive home delivered meals. This is run in partnership with the local Area Agency on Aging offices.
WIC, or Women, Infants and Children, can be applied to at the Community and Economic Development Association. This is paid for by the United States Department of Agriculture. It is a supplemental nutrition program focused on providing healthy meals for mothers and their children and infants. Clients of the government funded WIC program are eligible for all benefits, including vouchers for groceries, individual and group education, and even personalized counseling with a nutritionist.
Housing, mortgage, and rental programs from Community and Economic Development Association
Housing, foreclosure, and mortgage assistance programs from CEDA are paid for by local, state, and federal government organizations. They can help residents remain in or move into affordable housing.
- If you own a home but are struggling with paying your home loan, then CEDA works with lenders and banks to help the family enter into some type of payment plan. This is an option for people that need mortgage delinquency assistance.
- Foreclosure Prevention is also available in a crisis. This can put Cook County Illinois homeowners in contact with counseling services, mortgage assistance programs, foreclosure prevention events, free legal advice, and more. They can refer residents to Illinois foreclosure prevention programs.
- Or homeowners can get help from the Cook County Mediation Programs. This can assist families and individuals that are delinquent in or in default of losing their homes. A housing counselor from CEDA will work closely with the lender to find some type of payment plan that is acceptable for both the borrower and homeowner. Learn more on homeowner mediation in Cook County.
- Mortgage help in Chicago is offered. They offer one-on-one and group counseling in the following housing areas. Programs focus on assisting clients that need foreclosure prevention, they provide help to people that are affected by predatory lending, and mortgage relief. They work with Chicago homeowners to pursue loss mitigation strategies.
If you rent, then rental assistance may be offered from the Housing Program. The non-profit works with landlords and apartment communities throughout suburban Cook County Illinois to place low income and working poor families in temporary and affordable housing. In addition, in some cases very short term and emergency rental assistance may be provided.
Homeless Prevention services are available, and this can also include Transitional Housing for homeless individuals and families. The non-profit community action agency creates supportive housing and services that will allow people that are behind on their rent and/or homeless live as independently as possible. The program provides self-sufficiency and will help the client achieve residential stability.
Rental programs and transitional housing is also available for Honorably Discharged Veterans in Cook County. CEDA will support our countries heroes and they provide housing services to honorably discharged, homeless veterans. The assistance for vets in Chicago will help them to achieve residential stability, pay the rent/deposits, and gain housing stability.
Applying for help from Chicago CEDA
The Community and Economic Development Association offices to inquire at for more information include the following. CEDA is the regional community action agency. The organization may offer some short term financial assistance and government benefits, but clients will usually need to participate in case management and self-sufficiency sessions.
- The main site is at 567 W. Lake Street, Chicago, IL 60661. For information call (312) 782-2332
- North Suburbs is at 2010 Dewey Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201, phone (847) 328-5166.
- West Suburbs - 6141 West Roosevelt Road, Cicero, IL 60804, Office: (708) 222-382
- South Suburbs - Another office is at 3518 West 139th Street, Robbins, Illinois 60472-2002 , (708) 371-1220. The last office is the region is based at 53 East 154th Street, Harvey, Illinois 60426-3645, call (708) 339-3610.
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