Catholic Charities assistance programs Madison County Illinois.
Catholic Charities has a primary goal to satisfy the basic needs of those Madison County Illinois families in need of short term help or that are living in poverty. A wide variety of assistance programs are administered to those that meet the eligibility requirements, ranging from free food to referrals, money for helping with rent or utilities, Eldercare, free Legal aid, and more.
Any financial help is provided in a crisis first come – first served to those that qualify. Also, in person applications are needed and be prepared with a photo ID, proof of identification, and the original bill or apartment lease with which you need help with paying for.
Crisis financial aid
Catholic Charities offers utility assistance (water, electric, and heat) throughout Madison County. There may also be housing, referrals to medical clinics, grants or loans for rent, and other support given. A request for any form of financial help with a utility shut off notice or a medication (or any bills) often involves a complex set of circumstances. When not able to help, a Referral Service may be offered.
For the reason that funds are limited, and the hardships that a request for help often involves, each applicant to Catholic Charities in Madison County IL receives not just the opportunity to get a few dollars, but they get ongoing support. This is, after all, much more important to long term stability than the processing of his or her paperwork. Also, Catholic Charities Madison County has a free legal clinic.
This process is extensive. Through a one-to-one interview, the caseworker from the non-profit church – charity works to identify the often multiple personal as well as financial factors contributing to the household's emergency situation. Based on the completion of this process, they will then provide other forms of assistance. This may be budget counseling, referrals, debt reduction services, and even, when needed, emotional support as a holistic approach. All applications to the agency need to be done through in-person requests.
The St. Clair free community clinic at Catholic Charities is able to provide a range of health care (mostly dental or basic medical) to the low income and uninsured. While insurance such as Obamacare covers some medical needs, health care is still expensive, and most policies do not offer dental care. Therefore the clinic has services listed below, such as oral procedures, exams, check-ups, and more. There are dozens of adults and children assisted each year.
Local dentists and other staff volunteer there. There are also doctors from Madison County There are tens of people who give back to the clinic. Together they offer (by appointments), Free Dental Services, Cleanings, Exams, Dentures, Health Screening, X-rays, and some minor tooth Extractions. The medical part of the community clinic, which is still smaller in scope, offers medications, basic physicals, and treatment plans for a number of medical issues.
There will be a small cost in place, known as sliding fee. For people with insurance, such as BlueCross BlueShield or United Health, they can also use those plans to pay for the medical or dental bills. MedAssist also helps low income families find resources such as free health insurance or other local clinics.
No one should go hungry in Madison County. Catholic Charities believes access to affordable food (and ideally healthy food) is a right for everyone. To address this issue in the community, they operate a food pantry for anyone in need. There is also Meals on Wheels for the homebound in Madison County, a Summer Feeding Program, and Mobile food pantry. The hours are limited, and there is some documentation needed (residency, income, and other basic info) but when facing hunger or when struggling, stop by the pantry.
What may be offered is as follows. There can be canned groceries or fresh fruit or produce. Other supplies can be free baby formula, diapers, household cleaning supplies, detergent, and “non-food” items. Meals on Wheels also involves members of the Catholic Charity church bring frozen prepared food or meals to the client. What is offered to the public, who are successful in their applications, really depends on what the community donated; so the contents of the pantry vary. Or referrals are given to other free food pantries in Illinois.
Basic Needs include A resale Thrift Shop as well as Ramblin Rose school supplies. People from across Madison County Illinois can shop for good condition stuff at affordable prices. Catholic Charities runs this as one of the leading resale shops in Madison County. The site may sell everything from gently-used, quality clothing for the entire family to car seats, boutique items, used computers, books, toys, houseware items, cell phone and home décor.
The money raised is used to both keep the hand me up shop doors open as well as pay for their other assistance programs run. It also helps pay for the Ramblin Rose free school supply program. As with any thrift type store, donations are accepted at the shop during regular store hours.
Location of Catholic Charity church in Madison County
There is also central place as well as an administrative office. Catholic Charities in Madison County is a regional service. It covers many cities and counties in the region. Dial (618) 877-1184 for more information. The address is 1821 Edison Ave, Granite City, IL 62040.
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