Financial help from DeKalb County Community Services Department.
Staff from DeKalb County Community Services Department will identify each client's needs and strengths. Based on that assessment everything from job placement to financial aid for resolving a crisis will be provided by the organization.
Free food programs
Community Services operates several programs that provide free food for local residents who come are seeking assistance. Available services include the following resources.
Holiday Food Baskets are passed out to clients in either November or December. This is a separate service from the grocery program below, and the baskets do not count toward a client’s six times per year limit for groceries.
Groceries are offered. The agency will provide non-perishable food items, including fruits, dry goods, canned foods, and, as available, household paper products, baby formula, and diapers. Groceries are available once a month basis to income qualified families. Also, they are limited to a maximum of six packages per year, per family. Or learn about emergency food pantries in DeKalb County.
Second Helpings is the name of a service that offers freshly prepared foods and produce. These are distributed by DeKalb County Community Services Department once per week, depending on availability.
Emergency financial aid from Community Services Department in DeKalb County
The Family Support staff from Community Services Department helps clients resolve crisis situations, such as eviction, home repairs, utility disconnection, and homelessness. They will help every step of the way with these issues and others that are related to the emergency. Find solutions for the household crisis or bill arrearages. The goal is to support struggling clients of the agency as they work toward getting back on track.
The goal of the federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program is to help income-eligible households, especially the disabled, elderly and families with young children manage their home heating and cooling costs. HEAP, which is federal government funded, is available to both homeowners and renters in DeKalb County Illinois.
Benefits are in the form of payments in specific dollar amounts, which are limited. The payment will only be for a portion of an energy bill. The funds will be given to the utility companies on behalf of clients. Alternatively, HEAP helps clients with obtaining air conditioning units, natural gas furnaces, firewood, propane, or heating oil.
It can be difficult and frustrating to apply for entitlement from the government. Applications for SNAP, Medicaid, Public Housing, LIHEAP, disability and so on can be long and complicated. Help is available from your Family Support Specialist, who will also act as the persons advocate to resolve any issues that arise as they attempt to receive and/or continue to receive these benefits. There are even local attorneys that give free advice for SSI disability, as that cash aid program can be hard to get.
Self-sufficiency for the low income from Community Services
The programming provided by the Department’s Family Centered Services is based on identifying each family’s strengths, needs, and barriers. Staff believe that everyone has the ability to achieve stability. To this end, the DeKalb County Community Services Department Family Support Specialists provide the guidance, advocacy, support, and tools clients need to be successful in achieving their goals.
The Family Self-Sufficiency Program requires a commitment from participants, providing assistance and support along the way. This is given to the person as they work to identify resources, services and people to assist them in their efforts to reach their goals and revisit their dreams. Support services include mock employment interviews; personal interviews and access to the Internet in their new computer lab for research and fact gathering in regard to educational and employment opportunities.
Employment Related Services from the DeKalb Illinois agency provide support and assistance to help clients find and keep jobs. Some of what is available includes help with completing job applications, writing resumes and cover letters, searching for work, and other important job-related activities.
The DeKalb County Community Services Department’s Budgeting Program provides assistance with developing a realistic household budget. It can also address some other financial challenges, such as excessive debt or poor credit scores. The service is tailored based on each client’s unique income and spending habits. The Family Support Specialists also provide assistance and education in regard to saving any amount of money possible, regardless of what the amount is. They also stress tactics such as paying yourself first, which is key to getting ahead financially in life.
The intention behind the Community Service Block Grant Scholarship is ensure that low-income DeKalb County residents have access to funding for paying a portion of tuition and expenses for post-secondary education. Scholarship applications are available beginning from late January into early February. They are also are due in mid-June for the fall and spring semesters immediately following.
Eligibility requirements to apply for a scholarship include the following. The total household income not exceeding 125% of the poverty level, applicants need to have a permanent residency in DeKalb County, the client needs an acceptance for an undergraduate degree at an accredited two or four-year institution in Illinois, and also other scholarships and/or financial aid must be insufficient to cover the entire cost of tuition, fees, books and room if in student housing).
Community Action will once again offer free tax preparation and e-filing services provided by volunteer tax preparers who are certified through the AARP VITA/TCE. The DeKalb County Community Services Department program’s focus is on ensuring that all participants receive all of the credits to which they are entitled, including dependent care, EITC and more. In addition, those who e-file their returns receive their refunds more quickly.
How to apply for resources or assistance programs
DeKalb County Community Services provides clients with information about and referrals to the wealth of resources and agencies available in the Illinois service area. They always have the ability to link the struggling family with appropriate services to help them reach goals. To learn more, stop by 2550 N. Annie Glidden Rd., DeKalb, IL 60115, or call 815-758-3910.
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