Assistance programs McLean County Illinois.
Find where and how to get financial help in McLean County Illinois. There are a number of assistance programs offered for everything from electric bill to rent, medical costs or housing. Charities, churches, and government organizations also help with food needs, including by offering SNAP food stamps or groceries from a pantry. Locate grant money, free vouchers, Meals on Wheels services and other support in Bloomington Illinois as well as the greater McLean County area below.
Crisis and emergency assistance
The Salvation Army offers emergency assistance that provides the minimum necessities of life or other short term assistance to help pay bills and expenses. Find programs, resources, and services for those in need at the Salvation Army. They offer the services below, and are located at 611 W. Washington Street, Bloomington, IL 61701-3866, phone number (309) 829-9476 The resources offered include:
- Energy Assistance
The Salvation Army will provide up to $150 in grants and direct financial assistance if you are in danger or having your utility or heating service turned off. In addition, they partner with Nicor Gas to negotiate on peoples behalf an agreement in which the client can continue to pay their energy bills a little at a time and still keep utility and gas service on.
- Food Aid From A Local Pantry
This will provide enough food for those in need, and it will last several days based upon family size. People can use the pantry up to 3 times per year.
- Rent Assistance
A maximum of $250.00 will be provided by the McHenry and Bloomington Salvation Army. The funds are used to help pay back rent, prevent an eviction, and keep people in their homes. It focuses on people who have experienced a recent medical situation, but others are eligible as well. People can only receive rent help once.
- Help For Medical Bills and Health Care
Medical bill assistance is also offered, but it is limited to help with the cost of life sustaining medical prescriptions and drugs, and it is a one time only program.
- Transportation Services
Aid is provided to help people deal with transportation needs. The assistance provided can include money to pay for gasoline, a bus ticket, and / or bus tokens.
- Personal Items, Diapers, Personal Grooming Items & Cleaning Products
To receive free diapers, baby formula, personal grooming items or home cleaning products, one must have a referral from a caseworker from a local McHenry or Bloomington government agency.
- Other services are offered too. Read McLean Salvation Army assistance programs.
The McLean Illinois County community action agency is the Mid Central Community Action, Inc. They are based in Bloomington and can be reached at (309) 828-8811. The various assistance programs they offer include:
- Rental Assistance – The agency must verify a temporary crisis of the applicant. Click here for more on rent help.
- Payment on a security deposit and/or first months rent for a homeless family/individual
- Mortgage Payment Assistance – The homeowner must demonstrate future stability to manage payments on their home loan and a verified temporary crisis.
- Case Management Services – meetings with case worker to learn debt reduction, budgeting, money management and other life and financial skills.
- Car repair for employed individuals
- Utility and heating bill assistance - Grants from the LIHEAP program
- Weatherization - Reduce home heating and energy bills.
- Referrals to resources such as no interest loans for resolving a crisis.
- Homeless prevention and rapid rehousing provides rent help and eviction prevention aid.
- MCAA offers other help to the unemployed and low income, with a focus on stabilizing the situation. Continue Mid Central Community Action assistance programs.
PATH - Providing Access To Help is another non-profit agency may have financial assistance for helping people pay rent, provide mortgage assistance, and monies for utilities. Call for availability of funds, as it is limited. They are part of the Continuum of Care in McLean County. The agency may also provide homeless prevention and other help. (309) 827-4005, or continue reading on PATH assistance programs.
The local government agency, the Bloomington Township, Office of General Assistance (phone (309) 828-2356) offers Emergency Financial Assistance, which is limited to rent and utilities. The aid is available at most only one time in a twenty-four (24) month period to alleviate a family or individuals "life threatening" situations or to assist individuals in maintaining self-sufficiency over the long term.
Each and every town in McLean County will provide some general support. To those who qualify, and if grants are available, this can include emergency financial assistance for rent in order to prevent an eviction, money for utility shut-off notices, and more. Aid is usually offered as a last resort. Call your town, and some of the contact information is below.
- Allin Township (Stanford), Allin, IL 61774, call (309) 532-2182
- Anchor Township, Anchor, IL 61720, telephone (309) 532-2182 for information
- City of BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP, Office of General Assistance, 607 S. Gridley Street, Township enter, Bloomington, IL 61701, call (309) 828-2356
- Danvers Township, Danvers, Illinois 61732, call (309) 532-2182
Non-profit, charitable and government run housing programs are available. Qualified applicants can be given one or more of the following. Cash grants for paying rent or security deposits; loans; section 8 vouchers; placed into a shelter or other support services. Find details on rent help in McLean County.
Society of Saint Vincent Conference, which is located in Bloomington Illinois, focuses on a (1) free food pantry and (2) free clothing bank. There are also summer meals, fruits, and vegetables from a garden. Donations and volunteers help keep SVDP parishes operating. There may also be free holiday meals (Christmas, Thanksgiving), school supplies or uniforms (also for work), winter jackets and referrals to financial aid. More on SVDP McLean County Illinois.
Rent and housing assistance
McHenry County Housing Authority (MCHA) offers residents several housing programs and resources. In addition, they are located at 1108 N. Seminary Avenue (Route 47), Woodstock, Illinois, 60098, (815-338-7752). All types of resources are noted below. Contact these organizations to learn more or apply. They include.
- Rent money and eviction prevention services from a Homeless Prevention Program, Emergency Shelter Program & other community resources.
- MCHA also administers the federal government funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This programs provides grants that assist low and moderate income households with paying for the cost of heating and cooling their homes and apartments.
- A housing Rehab and Improvement Program assists very low income homeowners with repairing and fixing their homes.
- The Weatherization Assistance Program will help low to middle income households save energy by paying for and making repairs and updates to homes that will reduce the costs of heating and cooling bills of clients.
- Information on Illinois foreclosure assistance programs, as well as how to get mortgage help from the federal government.
- Many banks also offer mortgage help, including payment plans or interest rate reductions. Bank of America is a leading lender in the region, and learn more on assistance from Bank of America.
Food pantries in McLean County Illinois
There are numerous food banks, pantries, and churches to turn to for free food, holiday meals, or even such items as clothes and household items. Call each agency for the specifics.
- City of Refuge Food Pantry ((309) 827-4223) offers non-perishables food stuffs and more and is available to those in need, i.e., canned and dry foods.
- Home Sweet Home Ministries, which is located in Bloomington, provides a food box, and also offers meals on site. (309) 828-7356
- Union Baptist Church Food Pantry runs a food pantry. Call (309) 828-1162.
- Ministry & More, Inc. distributes free food, in particular nonperishable canned foods. They sometimes have frozen food and personal grooming supplies. Clothing, baby supplies, diapers and toys may also be available on a limited basis to low income and the needy. Phone (309) 823-9804.
- There are several other churches, charities, and non-profit food banks that serve the needy in McLean County Illinois. The goal is to not turn anyone away that may need assistance. More on McLean and Bloomington food pantries.
Debt elimination and credit counseling
Chestnut Health Systems Counseling and Family Services provides financial education, counseling, and debt management services to individuals and families that have debt, credit and budget problems. If needed, the credit counselor will develop a debt management plan to enable the client to repay creditors (such as credit card companies or medical providers) in an orderly fashion.
Credit counselors are experienced in working with creditors and can often negotiate lower monthly payments on their bills and debts, and can often negotiate lower interest rates to make timely repayment possible. Chestnut also offers Credit Counseling sessions that are required by law when filing for bankruptcy. (309) 820-3500. Learn how to companies negotiate to help people save money.
Health care for under or uninsured
Community Health Care Clinic, which can be reached at (309) 888-5531, can offer primary health care for the low income, medically under-served and/or uninsured residents, and working poor of McLean County Illinois. If you need complicated care the community clinic will refer you to another nearby hospital or physician for specialty services.
Township Screening for Rural McLean County – This is a rural clinic that can coordinate some medical care for those who qualify. One location is in the city of Normal Illinois (phone (309) 532-2182) and the other is in West Township (Sabina). Call (309) 532-2181.
Chestnut Health Systems may also offer health care on a sliding fee scale. Medications, check ups, and referrals to dental assistance may all be available. (309) 557-1400
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