Financial Assistance and Grant Programs Resources
The Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission has a list of Service Animal Resources. Information includes Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, programs that provide animals and more.
For questions, please contact the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission.
Share Our Spare collects new and gently-used items for children ages 0-5 and donates them to low-income families living in Metropolitan Chicago. Items are not available directly: instead, Share our Spare reaches families in need by partnering with local social services organizations that provide their clients with needed social services such as parenting classes, early childhood education, housing referrals, job readiness training, and behavioral health services.
Share Our Spare partners with social service agencies representing 120 zip codes in the following counties: Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, McLean, Will and Winnebago.
Shriner’s Hospitals for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children provides pediatric specialty care to children with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries, and other special healthcare needs within a compassionate, family-centered and collaborative care environment.
As a nonprofit healthcare system, Shriners Children’s aims to ensure treatment is available to all families, regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status.
Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois
The Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois provides resources, education and support for individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) and their caregivers. Its website includes information about:
- Current SCD treatment options
- Virtual monthly support groups on Zoom
- GroupMe app support groups (the app is for use on cell phones or computers)
- SCD testing and newborn screening
- Scholarships and camp opportunities
- Events
For questions, please contact the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois at (773) 526-5016 or sicklecelldisease-illinois@scdai.org.
SkyHope Patient Airlift Services
SkyHope Patient Airlift Services (PALS) is a nonprofit that arranges free flights with volunteer pilots to help families and individuals needing access to critical medical care, diagnosis, rehabilitation services or follow-up care. It also arranges flights for family members to ensure patients have support during long-term medical or rehabilitation services. The SkyHope network of volunteer pilots provides free regional medical flights and receives no compensation. SkyHope does not provide any ground transportation.
Visit SkyHope’s website to see frequently asked questions and to request a flight.
SNAP Online Purchasing Program
The Illinois Department of Human Services is offering online purchasing for more than 1.8 million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers across a million households.
Online SNAP will give families easier access to food during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. Busy parents will no longer have to stress about how they can pick their kids up from school and make it to the grocery store before dinner. And those working multiple jobs or the late shift won’t have to rush to make it before the store closes. All families will have another option to independently secure the food they need.
Social Security Administration
Social Security administers benefits such as Retirement, Disability, Survivor and Family. It also manages Supplemental Security Income (SSI), enrolls people in Medicare and issues Social Security numbers and cards.
The Social Security Administration website provides information on how to check your eligibility for benefits, apply for benefits and check your application or appeal status. It also has tools to help you manage your benefits and information.
For contact information and a list of frequently asked questions, visit the Social Security contact page.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers toolkits for people with sickle cell disease and professionals navigating the disability application and evaluation process. The toolkits provide detailed information, examples of the types of medical evidence required for individuals with sickle cell disease, and tips to help with the disability application and evaluation process:
Spanish Coalition for Housing (SCH)
The Spanish Coalition for Housing (SCH) seeks to build generational wealth through housing counseling, financial education, advocacy and by connecting low-to-moderate income households to resources that create housing stability, homeownership and economic mobility. Services are based in Chicago and include workshops, homebuyer education, homeowner education and counseling, landlord certification and more. SCH programs also include:
- Financial education and coaching
- Rental and mortgage help
- Utility assistance
- Health and housing
For questions, please email help@sc4housing.org.
Specialized Equine Services and Therapeutic Riding in Southern Illinois
Specialized Equine Services and Therapeutic Riding (SES) at Giant City Stables provides opportunities for people with physical and/or emotional disabilities to improve their well-being through riding and working with horses. Children age 4 and up and adults are welcome.
SES at Giant City Stables is a non-profit organization. Scholarships and grants are available for eligible families. For more information, please call (618) 529-4110 or email rachelle@sestherapy.com.