Resources for Adults

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Housing Assistance

Hope Now - Free foreclosure prevention assistance.

Hope for Homeowners - FHA program to help troubled homeowners refinance their mortgages.

Illinois Housing Development Authority - Assistance information for homeowners, renters, landlords and senior citizens.

Housing Authority of Cook County - Rental assistance for low-income housing in Cook County. Check here to find out about Section 8 Waiting List applications.

Housing Choice Voucher Program - Low income rental assitance (Section 8).

Greater Chicago Housing and Community Development - Assistance information for homeowners, renters, landlords and senior citizens.

Chicago Housing Authority - Public housing assistance for the City of Chicago.

South Suburban PADS - South Suburban shelters and services for the homeless.

MRSH - Suburban Cook County services for the homeless.

National Fair Housing Alliance - National association with local affiliates dedicated to ending housing discrimination.

Mortgageloan.com - An independent website providing information on Green/Energy Efficient Mortgages, with a free and anonymous mortgage loan and rate calculator.

Energy Assistance

LIHEAP - Illinois Low Income Energy Assistance Program.

IHWAP - Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program.

Nicor Gas - Links to programs with assistance for gas bills.

Peoples Energy - More links to programs with assistance for gas bills.

Exelon (Com Ed) - Tips for saving on home energy costs.

Keep Warm Illinois - Home energy information from the Governor's office.

Food Pantries

Rich Township Food Pantry

Thornton Township Food Assistance Program

Greater Chicago Food Depository - Search over 600 Chicago area food pantries.

Catholic Charities Nutrition Services - Food services for Cook County.

Together We Cope

CEDA - Community Economic Development Association of Cook County.

Grants and Financial Aid

Grants.gov

- A central storehouse of information on over 1000 federal grant programs.

GovBenefits.gov - Information on agencies providing assistance programs such as Social Security/Supplemental Security, Medicaid and State Social Services.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance - Search the database of all Federal assistance programs

Small Business Administration Financial Assistance

- Find programs offering financial assistance to small businesses.

Student Aid on the Web

- A guide to federal student aid programs.

Social Services

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic - Accessible Audiobooks for students with visual impairment, dyslexia, or learning disabilities.

Voices of Vision Talking Book Center - Services for people with visual or reading disabilities.

Chicago Lighthouse - Programs and services for the blind and visually impaired.

South Suburban Family Shelter - Programs and services for families suffering from domestic violence.

Metropolitan Family Services - Metropolitan is a source for counseling, parenting programs, after-school programs, legal assistance, respite care, or mental health services.

Aunt Martha's Youth Service and Health Center - Offers a variety of programs and services for children, teens and families in Illinois. Services include child welfare, community based healthcare, juvenile justice and prevention services.

South_Southwest Suburban United Way - Sponsors a variety of health and human services agencies in the Southland.

Family Guidance Centers - A not-for-profit behavioral healthcare organization that treats and prevents substance abuse. Download their latest Resource Guide.

Illinois Identification Cards - Illinois-issued identity cards for non-drivers including seniors, disabled persons and the homeless.

Social Service Connector - From the Cook County Sheriff, a directory of social service organizations that may be useful when facing an eviction.

Emergency Information

Emergency Closing Center - Find out if your school, library or daycare center is closed due to weather or other emergencies.

IDOT Winter Road Conditions - Find current winter road conditions across the state.

Consumer Information

Fuel Economy Guide

- Find gas mileage and emissions ratings for new and used cars

Institute for Consumer Credit Education - Assists low-to-moderate income consumers with issues such as housing, bankruptcy and foreclosure

Gazelle - Sell or recycle your used electronic gadgets

Greenphone - Sell or recycle your used cellphone

Cash4Books - Sell your used books and textbooks

Valore Books - Buy/Sell your used and new college textbooks

Chegg.com - Low-priced (not free) college textbook rentals

Bookrenter.com - Another resource for semester-long textbook rentals

Recycle Place - Sell your used toner and ink cartridges

Charity Navigator - A resource for charitable giving

Annual Credit Report - AnnualCreditReport.com is the ONLY authorized, secure source to get your free annual credit report under federal law.

Legal Information

Free Court Dockets - Free access to over 33 million court case dockets

Find Legal Help - Get help finding a lawyer, seeking free legal services, or researching your legal problem on your own

Illinois Legal Aid - This extensive website features a variety of resources to assist patrons in answering legal questions. Se habla español.

Illinois Pro Bono - Training and practice support for volunteer attorneys. NOTE: This website is intended for use by attorneys; it is NOT intended as a resource for finding volunteer attorneys.

Illinois Legal Advocate - Those who assist others in navigating legal resources will find training and practice support here.

Gale Legal Forms: Find personal and business related legal forms to download.

Handbook on Workers' Compensation and Occupational Diseases - a general guide to the rights and obligations of employees who have experienced work-related injuries or diseases, as well as the rights and obligations of their employers, under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Diseases Acts.

Jobs and Education

Job Search Resources - Resources on the internet and in the library to help you with your job search

GED Testing Program for Cook County - Find test sites and dates for the GED

GED Testing Information - Find GED resources in Illinois

U.S. House of Representatives Page Program - High school students can spend a semester working for the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington D.C. There is a similar program in the U.S. Senate.

Academic Earth - Pursue a world-class education for free. Download and view lectures and courses from some of the best universities in the country.

Genealogy and Local History

South Suburban Genealogical and Historical Society - Serving South Cook County and east Will County, including Chicago's Roseland and Pullman neighborhoods

Homewood Historical Society - Serving neighboring Homewood

Historic Pullman Foundation - Serving the Pullman Historic District in South Chicago

Illinois State Historical Society - Fosters awareness, understanding, research and preservation of Illinois history

Illinois State Genealogical Society - Research ancestors with an Illinois connection. Includes the Cemetery Location Project

Illinois State Archives - Historical depository of public records from Illinois state and local government agencies

National Archives - Historical depository of public records from the United States Federal government

Latter Day Saints Family History Records - You will find local Family History Centers located in Chicago Heights and Orland Park

Newberry Library Genealogy - Extensive genealogy collections. Includes Chicago Ancestors which shows history based on map locations

Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society - A national organization located in Washington D.C.

Illinois African American Genealogy - Links to relevant records and databases

Afrigeneas - A resource for African ancestored genealogy

Taxes

IRS Tax Forms

- Download your federal tax forms

Illinois State Tax Forms

- Download Illinois state tax forms

IRS Offices - Find your nearest IRS office for tax assistance

IRS Free File - Find out if you qualify for free federal tax filing online

IL-1040 Web File - Find out if you qualify for free Illinois tax filing online

Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board - Check the status of your appeal

Indiana Department of Revenue - Download Indiana state tax forms

Hospitals and Health Care

Illinois Hospital Report Card - Consumer ratings for health care choices in Illinois.

Advocate South Suburban Hospital

Ingalls Health System - Information on Ingalls Memorial Hospital and other South Suburban health centers.

All Kids Healthcare for Kids - Illinois program covering immunizations, lead screenings, hearing and vision screenings, and more.

Illinois Immunization Program

Cook County Immunization Program

Immunization Clinics - List of free and low-cost options for school immunizations.

Health-E Illinois - Find health services and providers in Illinois.

Federal Government

USA.gov

- The Federal Government's web portal to a vast array of information and services.

WhiteHouse.gov - Information and programs from the Administration of 44th President Barack Obama.

State Government

State of Illinois

Illinois Blue Book - The official State of Illinois manual

Illinois Secretary of State - Find services for motorists, small businesses, seniors and persons with disabilities

Illinois Department of Revenue

Find Your Districts and Elected Officials

Illinois General Assembly

Illinois Lottery

Illinois State Police

Illinois Cash Dash - Search for unclaimed property

Illinois Benefits - Sign up for Illinois Cares RX

Circuit Breaker

Find-It! Illinois - Services from the Illinois State Library

University of Illinois Extension - Includes information on Horticulture, Parenting & Seniors, Nutrition, Schools, 4-H, Environmental Stewardship and more

Recovery Illinois - Get information on state use of federal stimulus funds and projects associated with stimulus investment

County Government

Cook County Assessor

Cook County Treasurer

Cook County Clerk

Cook County Department of Public Health

Cook County Public Guardian

Cook County GED Testing

Cook County Information Center

Local Colleges

Governors State University

Prairie State College

South Suburban College

Illinois Virtual Campus - Distance education through Illinois colleges and universities.

Illinois Harvest, University of Illinois - Collection of digital resources about Illinois, including maps, books, photographs, posters, and manuscripts.