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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 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 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.

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.

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

Health Care

Some places and clinics to turn 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

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.

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.