Low-Income Resources in Illinois
Welcome to Money Fit’s Low-income resource list. There are different options organized into four categories: Food, Housing/Utilities, Child/Family Care, and Healthcare. Each resource has a brief description as well as contact information like a phone number and website URL.
We also provided an application for our Debt Management Program. If you’re struggling with debt, our nonprofit organization can provide the help you need to overcome financial burdens.
Use the following resources to determine if you qualify to receive financial assistance from a variety of programs.
How You Can Benefit From a Debt Management Program
While many consumers define debt management differently, we can all agree that getting out of excessive consumer debt leads to greater stability, less stress, and improved chances for long-term financial success.
Debt relief, debt counseling, debt consolidation, debt negotiations, debt elimination, and debt management all seem to mean the same thing: get rid of debt. However, they can vary widely in their meaning and method. Often, unscrupulous online actors identify themselves by one term but lead their unsuspecting clients down a completely different, and often financially disastrous, path.
If you are looking for a program that helps you repay 100% of your debts at more favorable terms, then look no further than Money Fit’s Debt Management Program.
Food Resources
Illinois – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) serves as the first line of defense against hunger. It enables low-income families to buy nutritious food.
Address: Illinois Department of Human Services, Bureau of Civil Affairs, 401 South Clinton St., 6th Floor, Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: 1-800-843-6154 | 1-866-324-5553
Website: Illinois Department of Human Services
Federal Resource – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.
Housing and Utilities
Illinois Department of Commerce – Housing Assistance
The Illinois Department of Commerce administers programs that offer housing support including housing rehabilitation, rental assistance, and accessibility assistance for occupancy by persons with disabilities. Assistance is offered through the programs listed below and must be accessed either through a unit of local government, a participating community action agency, or other not-for-profit organizations.
Address: Illinois Department of Commerce – Housing Assistance 100 W. Rudolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 1-833-711-0374
Website: Illinois Department of Commerce – Housing Assistance
Illinois Department of Commerce – Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides cooling, energy crisis, and low-cost weatherization/other energy-related home repair assistance to low-income households to assist with winter heating bills, and to provide help for some families who have received utility cut-off notices.
Address: Illinois Department of Commerce – Housing Assistance 100 W. Rudolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 1-833-711-0374
Website: Illinois Department of Commerce – Utility Bill Assistance
federal resource – Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs.
Child and Family Care
Illinois Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency are working together to support families to get the information and resources they need to find and select the best child care for their child.
Address: Illinois Department of Human Services, 100 S Grand Ave E, Springfield, IL 62762
Phone: 1-800-843-6154
Website: Illinois Department of Human Services Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP)
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Federal law requires that states offer and provide child support services (IV-D services) to all families, not just those who receive public assistance. In Illinois, child support services are administered by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Division of Child Support Services (DCSS).
Address: Numerous Office Locations – Click Here to Find Your Office
Phone: 1-800-447-4278
Website: Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Illinois Department of Human Services – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides temporary financial assistance for pregnant women and families with one or more dependent children. TANF provides financial assistance to help pay for food, shelter, utilities, and expenses other than medical.
Address: Illinois Department of Human Services, Bureau of Civil Affairs, 401 South Clinton St., 6th Floor, Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: 1-800-843-6154
Website: Illinois Department of Human Services – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Illinois Department of Employment Security
The Illinois Department of Employment Security is the code department of the Illinois state government that administers state unemployment benefits, runs the employment service and Illinois Job Bank, and publishes labor market information.
Address: Numerous Office Locations – Click Here to Find Your Office
Phone: 1-800-244-5631
Website: Illinois Department of Employment Security
Federal Resource – Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
WIC is a federally funded nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children that helps families by providing financial assistance to purchase healthy supplemental foods from WIC-authorized vendors.
WIC also provides nutrition education, breastfeeding information, and support as well as assists in finding healthcare and other community services.
Federal Resource – The Head Start Program
Head Start programs support children’s growth and development in a positive learning environment through a variety of services, which include
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Early learning: Children’s readiness for school and beyond is fostered through individualized learning experiences. Through relationships with adults, play, and planned and spontaneous instruction, children grow in many aspects of development. Children progress in social skills and emotional well-being, along with language and literacy learning, and concept development
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Health: Each child’s perceptual, motor, and physical development is supported to permit them to fully explore and function in their environment. All children receive health and development screenings, nutritious meals, oral health, and mental health support. Programs connect families with medical, dental, and mental health services to ensure that children are receiving the services they need.
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Family well-being: Parents and families are supported in achieving their own goals, such as housing stability, continued education, and financial security. Programs support and strengthen parent-child relationships and engage families around children’s learning and development.
Federal Resource – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides grant funds to states and territories to provide families with financial assistance and related support services. State-administered programs may include childcare assistance, job preparation, and work assistance.
Healthcare Resources
Federal Resource – Medicaid
Authorized by Title XIX of the Social Security Act, Medicaid was signed into law in 1965 alongside Medicare. All states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories have Medicaid programs designed to provide health coverage for low-income people. Although the Federal government establishes certain parameters for all states to follow, each state administers its Medicaid program differently, resulting in variations in Medicaid coverage across the country.