Promoting financial stability and independence
We are currently working on the following initiatives and programs.
Your gift toward Community Impact or Income Impact areas supports the following programs. If you would like to find out more about how to give to, or advocate or volunteer for any of the following programs and initiatives, please contact us. Also view our Education Impact Programs and Health Impact Programs.
Administer Justice
1750 Grandstand Place, #15, Elgin • (847) 844-1100 • www.administerjustice.org
Project HOME
This program helps individuals and families gain financial stability so they can meet their needs and the needs of their family. The program provides the professional help necessary to address the multiple legal and tax issues that surround home foreclosure and eviction process. Individuals will be empowered to effectively resolve financial issues, make use of money management skills, and improve their situation. Professional volunteers will provide important legal and tax information involved in housing issues.
Association for Individual Development
1135 Bowes Road, Elgin • (847) 931-6200 • www.the-association.org
Individual, Independent, Integrated
Case managers provide developmentally disabled individuals assistance in securing and maintaining employment, housing, and needed services to continue living and working in the community. Services include: job search, application preparation, interview skills, appropriate work behaviors, grooming, dress, social skills expectations, and workplace problem solving through participation in A.I.D.’s Job Club.
Community Crisis Center
P.O. Box 1390, Elgin • (847) 697-2380 • www.crisiscenter.org
Economic Crisis Program
The program provides information and resources to individuals and families lacking sufficient shelter, food and support. Services includes shelter, counseling, financial assistance, information and referral, emergency food, transportation, homeless outreach, and transitional living.
Ecker Center for Mental Health
1845 Grandstand Place, Elgin • (847) 695-0484 • www.eckercenter.org
Case Management
This program provides linkage to service and coordination of care by addressing the needs of individuals with mental illness in order to maximize their independence in the community. They assist individuals with understanding eligibility requirements and applying for benefits. This helps individuals increase their income level and enhance their well-being.
Family Services Association of Greater Elgin Area
22 S. Spring Street, Elgin • (847) 695-3680 • www.fsaelgin.org
Consumer Credit Counseling
The program offers a full array of accredited consumer credit counseling services that includes: debt management counseling, pre-foreclosure housing counseling, bankruptcy counseling, reverse mortgage counseling, pre-purchase housing counseling and financial literacy services.
The services enable clients to identify their financial goals and to create a plan that will help them meet those goals by applying educational information and exploring financial options.
Literacy Connection
270 N. Grove Avenue, Elgin • (847) 742-6565 • www.elginliteracy.org
Adult Volunteer Literacy
The program focuses on helping functionally illiterate adults -- those who cannot fill out an employment application, follow written instructions, or read a newspaper -- acquire the ability to read, write and speak English. The program is comprised of tutor instruction for basic reading and English as a Second Language (ESL).
Northern Illinois Food Bank
600 Industrial Drive, St. Charles • (630) 443-6910 • www.northernilfoodbank.org
BackPack Program
This program partners with elementary schools in District U-46. School social workers, staff and teachers help to identify chronically hungry children. The national program meets the needs of chronically hungry children when other emergency food resources are limited during the weekends and school vacations. Backpacks are filled with nutritious, child-friendly and shelf-stable food that is distributed to students on Fridays. The backpack provides enough food for three children, benefiting other siblings in the family.
PADS of Elgin, Inc.
1730 Berkley Street, Elgin • (847) 608-9744 • www.padsofelgin.org
Emergency Shelter/Case Management
PADS of Elgin, Inc. is breaking the cycle of homelessness by comprehensively addressing the needs of the local homeless population. The shelter is open year-round providing safe overnight shelter. The shelter offers an evening snack, breakfast, and connection with support services, including mental health, housing, healthcare, recovery, and education. The shelter opens nightly at 7 PM and closes each morning at 7 AM. Case management services are available during business hours, Monday through Friday.
PADS/Wayside Center Collaboration
1730 Berkley Street, Elgin • (847) 608-9744 • www.padsofelgin.org
Homeless Meals Program
The collaborative program effectively and efficiently meets the nutritional needs of people in crisis. Homeless individuals receive three meals daily along with shelter and other services provided by the organizations.
Salvation Army Elgin
316 Douglas Avenue, Elgin • (847) 741-2305 • www.salvationarmy.com/elgin
Emergency Assistance
The program provides emergency assistance (rent, food, utility, and clothing) to residents in Elgin and South Elgin. Case Management, which includes supportive assistance and linkage to other community resources is provided to clients in need of emergency assistance.
Senior Services Associates, Inc.
101 S. Grove Avenue, Elgin • (847) 741-0404 • www.seniorservicesassoc.org
Economically Stable Seniors
The program is dedicated to sustaining and improving the quality of life for mature adults by providing access to the social services they need. The program offers a comprehensive assessment including a financial analysis for older adults and connecting seniors with all public and private benefits due to them that will enhance their income. The program helps to preserve independence, promote mental and physical well-being and protects seniors' rights and dignity.
Special Income Initiatives
Kane County Guide to Community Services
WWW.kanecountyguide.org is an internet-based information and referral service, for almost any social, health, or human service need in Kane County. The United Way of Elgin acted as both a funding and program partner with several area organizations to create this current, accurate, and easily accessible way for people to find help.
The ongoing cost for this initiative is supported thanks to the generosity of the following community sponsors: United Way of Elgin, Fox Valley United Way, United Way of Central Kane County, United Way of Batavia, City of Aurora, City of Elgin, Elgin Township, Provena Saint Joseph Hospital, Provena Mercy Center and the Gail Borden Public Library.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)
VITA program provided by the Center for Economic Progress provides free tax information and help preparing income tax returns, claiming Earned Income Tax Credit and other credits. The program is available to families with incomes of less than $50,000 and individuals with incomes less than $25,000. The Income Impact Council partners with Center for Economic Progress by assisting with the volunteer recruitment and the marketing outreach.
1,000 Worker Skills Initiative
This initiative helps make the Elgin area stronger by offering WorkKeys®, the leading job skills assessment system in the nation, for free to unemployed and underemployed residents of the Elgin area. Initiative partners include: Elgin Community College, United Way of Elgin, Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, Gail Borden Public Library, Illinois Department of Employment Security, River Valley Workforce Investment Board, City of Elgin and School District U-46.
