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Madison County Assistance Programs

Get information on local charities and non-profits that provide assistance. Low income and other individuals can get help with paying their expenses, such as bill, rent, housing/mortgage, and more. Find details on the services, resources, and agencies below.

Crisis assistance for paying bills from Catholic Charities

They help qualified people of all faiths. A consumer from Alton Catholic Charities will meet with an applicant, review their financial situation, and if they decide the person is eligible they can provide case management, guidance, information on Illinois and federal government programs, referral and advocacy. In addition, the non-profit may also be able to provide free food, gently used clothing and household vouchers, rent, heating and utility bill assistance, or special food baskets and even gifts for children during the holiday seasons.

In addition to those services, Catholic Charities also provides funds for paying for medicines and prescription drugs. Patients may be able to qualify for the MedAssist program which will help individuals and families determine their eligibility for medications, and the program assist them through the application process for the assistance programs that the pharmaceutical companies have for the poor

You can call Madison County Catholic Charities at (217) 523-5624.

Senior assistance programs

Individuals who are 55 years of age or older may contact the United Way supported Senior Services Plus, Inc. at (618) 465-3298. This non-profit organization provides support services and resources for individuals age 55+ in the Madison County region. They offer basic and emergency needs (even for the occasional bill or expense) and also offer various senior services. Read more on programs from Agency on Aging offices.

 

Emergency aid

Feel free to contact the Crisis Food Center. This is a local food pantry and they also offer free clothing to those in need. The location serves as a distribution center. (618) 462-8201

While the county does not have a community action agency (learn more on these programs) low income and other individuals can contact Madison County Community Development, which serves as an equivalent type agency. They also have partnered with various local non-profits and charities throughout Madison and Alton Illinois. (618) 692-8940.

  • Housing repairs – The Housing Rehabilitation Program offered by Madison County will help qualified people correct housing violations, improve the energy efficiency of their home, it will provide homeowners with a safer and healthier environment, and last, but not least, the repair program will reduce the maintenance burden for low and moderate-income homeowners in the community.
  • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program – This program, usually called LIHEAP, was designed to assist eligible low-income households, the elderly, and the disabled pay for winter energy services and heating bills.
  • Conserve and save on utility bills – The Madison County Weatherization Program aids both income-eligible rents and homeowners by installing energy saving measures in their home.

Society Of St. Vincent De Paul Edwardsville – A partnership of local churches. The charity may be able to pay first months rent, or provide funds to help prevent an eviction. Conditions that need to be met include home visits. Other programs provide emergency financial assistance and cash grants for paying for transportation, licensed child care, and other emergency services when the need is verifiable. 110 North Buchanan Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025, main number (800) 775-0712. Read more.

Veterans Assistance Commission Of Madison County will only support military personnel and veterans. However a number of resources are provided, such as those listed below. Food, groceries, meals, and household items are all distributed. Cash to pay rent if faced with imminent eviction. Burial expenses and funeral costs are available. Miscellaneous disability care expenses and medical support. Apply for money for paying utility and heating bills. The center is located at 157 North Main Street Suite 115 Edwardsville, Illinois 62025.

General assistance is provided by each town in Madison County Illinois, including the town of Alton. Call (618) 462-0091. Funds are provided in an emergency, including rent assistance to low income families in an emergency who have been issued a legal eviction notice from their landlord or apartment manager. Money for rent is only offered if the individual is pending an application for assistance from a State/Federal government welfare or entitlement program. Money is only paid out at most once per year.

Another more general financial assistance program is available too in each Town, which addresses housing and shelter needs. No eviction notice is required for this option, and it can pay up to at most $150 to qualified people.

Salvation Army of Alton can be reached at (618) 465-7764. Most of the programs are emergency and last resort. Examples of aid offered include emergency food assistance and groceries once a month. If someone has a disconnect notices on their water account, utilities, including gas, electric and heating, money can be paid out. Other services including clothing, Christmas meals and gifts, coats, and more. Many resources are offered by appointment only.

Highland Area Christian Service Ministry offers several social services to the less fortunate. Among them include emergency utility bill and rent assistance, referrals, food, assistance with applying for SNAP, LIHEAP and medical card. They also provide a number of referrals. 900 Chestnut Street, Highland, IL 62249, call (618) 654-9295.

Marion Ministerial Alliance may have utility assistance, including gas and electric bills. Some eviction prevention/rent help may be offered too. 103 East Calvert, Marion, Illinois 62959, call (618) 993-8419.

Coordinated Youth And Human Services – AIDs patients who are currently in care management may qualify for assistance with medical bills, housing, utilities, and prescriptions. 2016 Madison Avenue, Granite City, Illinois62040. Call (618) 876-2383

Madison County Urban League addresses both housing and energy needs. Apply for energy bill assistance from LIHEAP. This can pay for heating and cooling bills. The non-profit agency can also offer housing and foreclosure counseling, budget, debt reduction and home purchase counseling and preparation services. Phone (618) 877-8860

Housing programs, including rent or emergency, short term shelters are provided by the following.

  • ARCH House – Call 877-4987. This is for single men with some form of drug problem.
  • Good Samaritan House is for women and also their children. Call 876-0607
  • Oasis Women’s Center (phone 465-1978) as well as Phoenix Crisis Center (call  451-1118) will offer housing for women and children from Madison County that are victims of domestic violence.
  • Salvation Army Booth House is another option for shelter. The agency runs a number of other social services and emergency assistance in the region too. 465-7764
  • The Madison County Transitional Housing Program is a government resource that offers temporary housing and supportive services, such as career counseling, for individuals that have disabilities and  families with children. 692-8940
  • Rental assistance is offered by Catholic Charities for residents of the Tri-Cities-Granite City, Madison, Venice, parts of Chouteau Townships and Nameoki. Phone – 877-1184
  • The Madison County Urban League offers rent, foreclosure, landlord/tenant mediation and housing help for the regions of Hartford, Riverbend-Alton, Godfrey, Bethalto, Roxana, South Roxana, East Alton, Cottage Hills, and Meadowbrook Illinois. 463-1906. More on the Urban League.
  • Eastern Madison County, such as the towns and cities of Edwardsville, Collinsville, Hamel, Troy, Maryville, Worden, are covered by the Glen-Ed Pantry. Call 656-7506 for information on rent assistance.

Rental assistance programs

If you are facing an eviction or need help with rent or security deposit, try the following non-profit and charities.

  • Catholic Charities, 877-1184
  • Madison County Urban League, 463-1906 ext. 1. Learn more on programs from Urban League.
  • Glen-Ed Pantry, 656-7506

Medical bills and prescription drugs in Madiscon County Illinois

If you need help obtaining prescription medications, contact the Southwestern Illinois Chapter – American Red Cross, phone number 465-5314.

Food pantries and assistance

Some of the local places to turn to for food and groceries include:

  • Churches/Catholic Charities, 462-0634 x.237
  • Ministries Unlimited, 310 Collinsville Rd., Troy, Illinois. Call 604-8433
  • Glen-Ed Pantry, 656-7506
  • Salvation Army-Granite City, 451-7957

Catholic Charities Of The Diocese Of Springfield Illinois, Alton and Wood River is located at 3512 McArthur Boulevard, Alton, Illinois 62002. A food pantry can provide meals, groceries, and more. Some items may be delivered to the homebound.

Crisis Food Center, Inc. Dial (618) 462-8201. Provides up to five days of food at most once per month.

River Bend Adventist Community Services in another emergency pantry, with a delivery service to homebound clients. Perishable items, canned food, government surplus items can all be distributed.

Riverbend Community Food Pantry is located at 929 Milner Avenue in Alton, IL 62002. The non-profit provides perishable, non-perishable foods and non-food items like household supplies and diapers to those in need of help in Madison County.

Community Hope Center, Inc. – Food is provided at most once per week to the needy. Their family size and income needs to be confirmed. 1201 Hope Center Lane, Cottage Hills, Illinois 62018, phone (618) 259-0959

First Granite City Foursquare Church can offer an emergency food pantry. Government commodities and other aid is made available. Phone number is (618) 451-9635

The application site for food stamps, or the so called LINK card, is the East Alton DHS office. The center is at 608 W. St. Louis Avenue, East Alton, IL 62024, call 618.258.1660. Another option, and this is for southern Madison County, is the Granite City DHS which is based at 1925 Madison Avenue. Telephone – 618.877.9200.

Alpha & Omega State Park Food Pantry, 3301 Harvard, Collinsville, IL, call 344-4091.

Collinsville Area Ministerial Association is based at 201 E. Church. Call 346-1861

Community Care Center administers a food bank for the needy. The location is 1818 Cleveland Blvd.,     Granite City, IL. Call 876-8770

Maryville Food Pantry is based at the corner of N. Donk & E. Zupan in Maryville. Call 345-9693

Highland Area Christian Service Ministry. Location is 620 13th St., Highland, IL. Call 654-9295 for hours and intake at the pantry.

Operation Blessing – call 251-5683

Madison Salvation Army food pantry and soup kitchen operate a couple locations. The one in Alton (465-7764) as well as Granite City both have food pantries, clothing closets and offer other social services. 451-7957

Scholarship Program is offered by the Madison County Community Development. Call 692-8940.

Madison Illinois health care centers and clinics

Central Alton Health Center is located at 2615 Edwards Street Suite 171, Alton, Illinois 62002. Call (618) 462-4342 for an appointment. The clinic can provides primary health care services for free or low cost family care, including laboratory and asthma care. The location can also offer primary health care, family practice, internal medicine, family planning, pediatric services, cervical cancer screening, immunizations, referrals to specialists, and even substance abuse.

Community Hope Center, Inc. offers free medical services. Both a portable medical unit available is offered at the facility as well as on site doctors and nurses. 1201 Hope Center Lane, Cottage Hills, Illinois, main number is (618) 259-0959

Bunker Hill Clinic can offer medical care on a sliding fee scale to the low income and under insured. Learn about family care, discounted prescription medications, dental services and more from the clinic. (618) 585-6290

Bethalto Health Center is another option for affordable medical care. Location is 2 Terminal Drive, Suite 8, East Alton, IL 62024.