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McLean County assistance programs.

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. In addition, the McHenry County Housing Authority, located at 1108 N. Seminary Avenue (Route 47), Woodstock, Illinois, 60098, (815-338-7752) offers various housing assistance programs. All types of resources are noted below. Contact these organizations to learn more or apply.

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. 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.

Rent and Housing Assistance

McHenry County Housing Authority (MCHA) offers residents several housing programs and resources. 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.