Food assistance for single mothers
Hunger is a reality in Illinois. Every day there are children and adults who go without food. However, it does not have to be that way. There are public and private services that work to end hunger in America. The largest food safety net in the U.S. is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. SNAP helps low-income individuals and families purchase food they need for good health. In Illinois, 2,039,353 residents used SNAP benefits in November 2014.
Persons approved for SNAP receive benefits through an Illinois Link card. The Illinois Link card is a plastic card that resembles a debit card and works like one as well. The Link card is accepted at most grocery stores. The Link card replaces Food Stamps.
SNAP benefits can be used to buy any food or food product for human consumption and seeds and plants for use in home gardens to produce food.
SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy hot foods ready to eat, lunch counter items or food intended to be eaten in the store. The Illinois Link Card also cannot be used to purchase vitamins or medicines, pet foods, nonfood items (with the exception of seeds and plants), tobacco or alcohol.
For more information on food assistance for single moms, call the SNAP Hotline 800-843-6154, 800-447-6404 TTY or locate an office by county.
Utility Assistance for single moms
Are you a single mom having difficulty paying your utility bill? Is your account past due? Contact your local utility for help. Many people struggle with energy costs that can cause severe hardship. For some a desperate decision must be made regarding which bills to pay and how to survive without paying the rest.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is designed to help eligible low-income households pay for winter energy service.
For assistance with paying your power bill contact one of the companies listed below or your local utility office.
- Ameren 877-411-9276
- ComEd CHAMP (ComEd Helps Activated Military Personnel) 888-806-CARE (2273)
- Nicor Gas Offers for rebate. Contact to apply.
- Northshore Gas 866-556-6004 TDD 866-556-6007
- Peoples Gas 866-556-6001 TDD 866-556-6007
- Springfield City Water Light & Power 217-789-2414
- Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative 618-842-2196
Contact Commuity Action Agencies or county office. to get single mother benefits. This website contains valuable information about all resources for utilities in Illinois.
Keeping Cool
Those hot humid days in summer can also send your utility bills soaring. For help keeping cool visit this page or call 877-411-9276.
This is a service that assists people with both heating and cooling.
Credit Counseling for single parents
Do you feel like you are drowning in debt? Are your costs more than your income? Have you used one credit card to pay for another? If you need credit counseling, you are not alone. Every year people file for bankruptcy because their credit is out of control. You do not have to allow your debts to take over. Chestnut Credit Counseling Services (CCCS) helps single mothers and families with financial problems learn to plan a budget and money management.
CCCS is a non-profit service agency with professional credit counselors, dedicated to enabling all individuals to reduce budgetary stress and regain financial control. The counselors provide consumer education, confidential budget counseling and/or debt management programs, regardless of income or amount of debt. Call 800-615-3022 for more information on single mother legal assistance.
Legal Services
If you need assistance with a legal matter but you cannot afford help, what can you do? Contact Illinois Legal Aid. Illinois Legal Aid has been providing free or low-cost legal assistance to low-income individuals and families since 2001. The legal experts can help with a range of civil issues including eviction, domestic abuse, denial of program benefits, children’s rights, and more.
Illinois Legal Aid Mission Statement
Increase access to justice for lower-income and vulnerable Illinois single mothers through the innovative use of technology to assist and educate the public and to train and support legal aid providers and pro bono attorneys.
Illinois Legal Aid is a non-profit organization that serves the entire state and has offices in Chicago. Find help for your legal issue.
Cornerstone Community Homeless Outreach
Do you need a place to stay? Are you living in a car or on the street? No one ever plans on being homeless. However, there are people and agencies that care about those who have nowhere to go. The Cornerstone Community Outreach has sheltered over 25,000 individuals. Cornerstone Community primarily provides shelter for women and families. There are programs for single men, and women but services are limited. Job training, skills assessment, case workers, all are in place to assist shelter residents with finding long term housing and permanent work.
Hannah House
Hannah House shelters 55 women with children with a small number of couples with children. Hannah House is located in an accessible building with rooms on the first floor and a passenger elevator to allow clients with mobility issues to gain entry to shelter space. The oldest-running shelter program, Hannah House began operation in 1989 and has enabled hundreds of families to move from homelessness to stable housing.