Vermilion County Catholic Charities assistance programs.
Catholic Charities offers Vermilion County struggling families access to case management, which is a holistic approach to addressing a crisis. The process will involve a qualified applicant in meeting with a social worker from the church based charity to go over any problems they are faced with, whether financial in nature, medical, or even a personal crisis.
The process will have a goal to improve the overall well being of the family. Based on the results of this, there may be emergency assistance in an effort to ensure that basic human needs are met. Most of this assistance is when the church refers the client to the applicable resources. There may also be financial help for housing to prevent homelessness, referrals to clinics in Vermilion County for medical needs, food and more.
Staff from Catholic Charities want clients to find and maintain the greatest level of self-sufficiency. Anyone seeking help needs to take the initiative on their own to work towards those goals. The case manager assists clients in setting and achieving objectives, enabling the person to move into a more stable and secure lifestyle.
Catholic Charity food programs that are run serve a variety of needs for working poor clients including providing healthy weekend treats for school age children or feeding a hot lunch to a low-income senior citizen. Diverse, mass food programs are thriving at Catholic Charities partner facilities including the communities of Danville and other towns in Vermilion County. Every client is greeted warmly and treated with respect. Here is a list of food programs, and they include Backpack Feeding Program for Children, Supper Club (during the week), Food Pantries, free Grocery Assistance, and Holiday Meals.
Individuals and families, whether they have a low income or are affluent, can purchase essential household items at the Vermilion County Catholic Charities thrift store. It is open to anyone, with no questions asked or application processes in place. The inventory includes school supplies, washers, dryers, stoves and refrigerators; Christmas toys; furniture, and more.
Volunteers also collect and distribute gently used books to children at schools throughout the community. There is also bedding for a new home, dressers, sofas, kitchen tables and chairs; housewares, such as dishes, pots and pans; and even more expensive knick-knacks. All of the merchandise is minimally priced, so people can save a significant amount of money.
A Companion Service from Vermilion County Catholic Charities is for persons age 55 and older in Danville Illinois and other communities. The non-profit provide supportive services for less able elderly individuals. This program is a part-time volunteer opportunity, but there are also full time staff as well. The objective of the Senior Companion Program is to reduce or prevent the need for institutional care or placement into a nursing home.
Catholic Charities works with a local network of community partners, charities, and non-profits to provide a continuum of care for Vermilion County homeless. Case managers from the agency and their partners coordinate an array of services as well as offer financial support for rent, utilities, and security deposits to ensure that each family is successful in their efforts to gain self-sufficiency and establish a stable housing situation.
Applicants to any financial support must meet program eligibility requirements and demonstrate that they are ready and willing to participate in case management. Only at that time may a loan or grant be given to them. The agreement will need to be for the person to address existing barriers that stand between them and being independent of public assistance.
In operation by partners of Catholic Charities as well as pro-bono attorneys, the Legal Clinic is part of a network that work in conjunction with the Legal Aid Society of Illinois. The program serves those who qualify for free advice under the LASC income guidelines. Clients are seen on a walk-in basis, and must be checked in/screened beforehand. Attorneys from across Vermilion County who would like to inquire about volunteering at the clinic are encouraged to contact the coordinator.
Attorneys are available to consult with clients in regard to consumer concerns, home foreclosures, domestic issues, tenant rights and other legal questions. Those found to be in need of more comprehensive services may be referred to the regional LASC or another agency.
Catholic Charities can refer families to heating and gas bill assistance programs. To be approved for federal government funded Energy Assistance as part of LIHEAP, applicants must meet program criteria that include residing within Vermilion County. They also need to have an income not exceeding Federal Income Guidelines based on the size of their household and meet other requirements.
Please note that the government is unable to pay on an account that has already been disconnected due to non-payment of previous utility bills. All assistance is limited to once per program year, which runs each year from October 1 through September 30, and the churches that are part of Catholic Charities can refer the resident to an application site.
Cash grants from LIHEAP helps with payments for heating, electricity, natural gas, propane, wood, kerosene, coal, or another energy resource. There may be financial aid in Vermilion County for both homeowners and rental tenants, and the grant pay for a wide range of energy sources. LIHEAP will not pay for reconnection fees or deposits to set up electrical service, so please be sure that you have allowed enough time to process an application and payment prior to any disconnection process.
For more information, this is a regional network. The main phone number of Vermilion County Catholic Charities is 443-1772.
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