Help with bills in Chicago and Cook County

Get help with bills in Cook County and Chicago. Find where to get financial help including money to pay back rent or an electric bill, housing services or money to pay for groceries.

Social service agencies, charities as well as government offices across the city of Chicago and Cook County. grants, loans, bus passes, car or auto repairs and more to low-income families. Find where to get financial help with bills near you in Chicago and Cook County, with agencies and their contact information below.

The agencies all strive to provide both free items as well as emergency financial assistance to the low income, elderly, parents, single mothers and disabled among others. They also give out free personal or household stuff to the low income in Chicago, such as winter coats, school supplies, furniture, or even a free furnace or HVAC replacement unit.

Emergency help for electric, groceries, housing and other bills in Cook County: The Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc., often called CEDA, provides hardship grant money to help with paying bills.

They offer Chicago and Cook County residents dozens of different assistance programs, including to low-income families, single adults, and the working poor. Housing Assistance

Mortgage and Foreclosure Assistance

ranges from money to pay rent to mortgage relief and more. There are several different resources offered by the community action agency that people have available to them. Mediation is for both tenants / landlords as well as homeowners / lenders, or get grant money to pay for housing costs, storage help and more.

Energy and utility bill help

Community Action Agency Services

from community action helps pay for everything from winter heating costs to year round electric bills, including those from ComEd. There are also applications to federal LIHEAP grants as well as emergency aid to help seniors or the disabled in Cook County keep their power on when facing a hardship.

CEDA helps with food , including summer meals for kids out of school, referrals to pantries in Cook County and other programs, such as USDA commodities. Head Start is the main Chicago area program for child development and early education.

The case workers from Community and Economic Development Association operate this locally on behalf of the federal government. A main goal is to also address long term needs, which is often around employment

Employment and Job Training

. CEDA works with government job training centers in Illinois, including Workforce Development centers as well as WorkNet. They help people find employment and/or train for a better career.

While the main office of: Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc. is located at 567 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60661 they have several other locations throughout Cook County, including in Berwy, Robbins, Summit, and more. Call them at (312) 795-8844 or (312) 782-2332 to learn about resources and services they may have for your situation.

Learn more on Community and Economic Development assistance programs It is possible to get free stuff in Cook County too

Free Legal Services

. In addition to the organizations listed throughout this page that help people pay bills there are also charities, churches and even neighborhood groups that provide free items. This can also be free services. Everything from food to medical, legal aid and so much more is available and locate places for free items in Cook County and Chicago

Faith-Based Emergency Assistance

Salvation Army of Cook County and Chicago. The charity administers

Free Vehicle Programs

several different assistance programs. As the agency has funding, they may help people pay heating and utility bills, rent, or give a free motel voucher. Free bus or train passes as well as gas cards are offered too in Chicago. There is also free Christmas toys for kids, food as well as other holiday assistance, and free food.

Free seasonal help is offered too. This will be a warm shelter during the winter as well as Summer Camp for kids. The homeless in Chicago can get a free meal or winter coat, or access counseling, substance rehab services and more. Self-sufficiency services , including employment from FamilyWorks, side jobs, gig work and more.

Locate side jobs to make money Case management services are offered. They help Chicago IL families, including adults, improve their situation. This can be free clothes for a job interview, work uniforms, or access to a computer lab, Most of the services are offered in emergency situations to low income families.

Faith-Based Emergency Assistance

Get locations of Salvation Army in Cook County and Chicago Emergency rental and security deposit help in Cook County and Chicago is available from both government affiliated and non-profit agencies.

Any funds will be combined with case management and information on safe, low income apartments or transitional housing. Some grants may even be offered for first months rent or paying a portion of moving costs. Read more on Chicago rental programs Short term housing and homeless shelters are located across the city and Cook County.

While the centers can provide residents a place to stay for a short period of time, more importantly social workers will help people who were evicted or who are homeless find and pay for permanent housing in Chicago or the suburbs.

They also help keep the disabled, mentally ill and elderly warm in a crisis, even including emergency hotel vouchers. Find a place to stay if homeless using a voucher

Employment and Job Training

Individuals, including single adults or families in Chicago, can also use the various case management services that are available. Homeless people and those that need a place to stay will get employment assistance, job training, and credit repair type programs.

Many of the locations also have information on security deposit and homeless prevention programs. More details on transitional housing and homeless shelters in Cook County Society of St. Vincent De Paul (dial 773-779-6700) is a charity made up of local parishes. Based on funding, get access to a wide range of assistance programs.

Applicants may be able to receive funds to pay energy, water and heating bills. Or get emergency rent assistance from SVDP in Chicago and access to food and other household items. There is also bargains and low cost goods at a St. Vincent de Paul thrift store St. Vincent partners with many churches across Cook County and Chicago.

While any funds they have for rent or heating/utility bills is limited, their main focus is on providing other services. For example, receive free food, Christmas meals and gifts, social services, access to a bargain thrift stores and food pantries. There are also free or low cost appliances or vouchers from the thrift store, furniture, beds and more.

The main address is 2486 E Oakton St, Arlington Heights, IL 60005. Read more Chicago St. Vincent assistance Social Services from Cook County DHS offers long term and immediate aid.

Free Vehicle Programs

If you are faced with a crisis, the Department of Family Services in Chicago offers a number of financial assistance programs. Free government grant money is offered. There also help families living in poverty, people with a disability, the unemployed and others.

Get help with job finding or career counseling. There are other government assistance programs for the low income and people who are struggling. Get help with applying for cash assistance, Medicaid, and EBT card from food stamps in Chicago and more.

There is also free grant money for paying a bill or rent, and more. Learn more

Government Benefits and Social Services

Chicago area public assistance programs 2-1-1 in Metro Chicago

Disability Support Services

is a free service - both online and over the phone. The database lists various programs that help struggling people ranging from food to affordable housing, disability services, programs that help pay electric bills and so much more. The link to the 211 database is here

211 Information and Referral Services

https://211metrochicago.org/ Chicago Chesed Fund only supports the Lincolnwood part of the county. The non-profit will not discriminate based on their religion. They administer immediate financial help to the low-income, basic needs such as food or grocery boxess and clothing, as well as self-sufficiency.

Dozens of programs are run. Zero percent interest loans may be offered for certain expenses such as a security deposit, rent, or critical car repair. The Fund works with partners such as the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Together they provide basic needs, including winter coats, free boxes of food, work or school clothing, baby formula, and other support.

Cash assistance may be offered for housing needs, such as rent, a mortgage payment or utility bill. As noted, only families or individuals in Lincolnwood may qualify. Several other programs, including referrals to Cook County resources, are offered by the Chesed Fund of Chicago Assistance from Catholic Charities is available.

This is one of the leading charity organizations in Cook County. They can distribute direct financial assistance for basic needs such as rent, homeless prevention, and food or free groceries, including baby formula.

However they can really help by referring people to other government programs in the region. They run a free soup kitchen for hot meals, general counseling, and much more. Look here for organizations for free hot meals Foreclosure prevention is offered too, and Catholic Charities can help people both looking to buy their home, and also stop a foreclosure in Chicago.

The Catholic Charity agency offers first time home buyers' education and access to funding. Or get low-interest rate loans for buying a home, or learn about modification programs. Other services

Government Benefits and Social Services

offered include applications to government and public assistance such as WIC and SNAP.