Resource Directory /

General Resources

  • Suburban Cook County Homeless Prevention Call Center

    If you need financial assistance with mortgage, rent payments, rent deposits, utility payments or other housing issues, please call the Homeless Prevention Call Center at 1-877-4-Cook-15 (1-877-426-6515).

    Listen carefully to the prompts to choose which kind of help you need.

  • Summer Meals Program

    The Summer Meals Program and Illinois No Kid Hungry collaborate with national and state partner organizations to provide free meals during the summer for children and youth who depend on school lunches during the school year. Meals are available at locations throughout Illinois for children and youth ages 18 and under.

    To find a meal site near you:

    There is no application to receive a meal and you do not have to show proof of income.

  • Sunshine Foundation

    The Sunshine Foundation helps make dreams come true for children ages 3 to 18 who have severe or profound illnesses or conditions. Referrals can come from anywhere in the United States for children with severe or profound physical/developmental/intellectual challenges or trauma from physical/sexual abuse and whose families have limited income.

    Dream requests can include:

    • Staying at the Sunshine Foundation Dream Village and visiting area theme parks and attractions
    • Funding towards a special gift or item of interest
    • Funding towards medical or adaptive equipment that insurance may not cover

  • Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills Tip Sheet

    This Supporting Children With Limited Verbal Skills tip sheet from the Illinois Early Learning Project provides strategies that are helpful to all children but are particularly helpful for those with limited verbal skills.

    IEL offers a wide variety of one-page, easy-to-read tip sheets covering a wide range of topics for parents and teachers of young children.

    All tipsheets are available in Spanish and English. Selected tipsheets are available in Polish, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and French.

  • Survivor Empowerment Center

    The Survivor Empowerment Center provides a safe and secure environment for southern Illinois domestic violence survivors and their children.

    The Center provides free, confidential services around-the-clock, 365 days a year to domestic and sexual violence survivors. Women, men, adolescents and children from Franklin, Jackson, Johnson, Perry, Saline, Williamson, Union and Gallatin counties are welcome.

    Help includes:

    • A 24/7 hotline
    • A safe place/shelter away from an abuser
    • Counseling
    • Education and training
    • Assistance through medical, reporting and legal procedures

  • Swift Outdoor Accessible Recreation (S.O.A.R.) Foundation

    The Swift Outdoor Accessible Recreation (S.O.A.R.) Foundation provides an individual adaptive equipment grant for spinal cord injury survivors with paraplegia and quadriplegia.

    The grant is open to individuals of all ages and covers specific modifications or equipment needs that will help get you outdoors. Eligible items include:

    • Wheelchair outdoor tires and attachments
    • Vehicle modifications (i.e., hand controls or lifts)
    • Exercise (FES Bike, Standing Frame) or recreational equipment
    • Small home modifications (including a ramp)

    Applicants must reside in the United States. They also must demonstrate financial need and may be required to provide documentation.

  • TAG Oral Care Center for Excellence in Chicago

    TAG Oral Care Center (TAG OCC) provides free dental care to eligible, underserved adult patient populations. TAG OCC is located in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood near public transportation and Interstate 90/94.

    To qualify for free dental care, patients must be:

    • Illinois residents
    • Eligible for Medicaid or uninsured with a household income not greater than 200 percent of the federal poverty level

    More details are available in the TAG OCC flyer. Interested patients can see if they qualify to make an appointment by calling (866) TAG-OCCE/ (866) 824-6223 or visiting TAG OCC’s website.

  • Taller De José

    Taller de José is an agency that helps individuals find their way through the social services system. It links individuals with a bilingual Compañera/o, or “Companion,” who will listen, identify goals and help find needed services. The organization collaborates with other agencies to provide social services and help including financial, domestic violence, immigration, counseling and legal assistance.

    Taller de José serves Cook County residents.

  • Telecommunications Relay Services Information in American Sign Language

    Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) allow people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind or have speech disabilities to communicate by telephone.

    The Federal Communications Commission’s American Sign Language video walks you through the various TRS systems available.

  • The ADA National Network Disability Law Handbook

    This handbook is meant to provide basic information about disability rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as resources for finding out more.