KANKAKEE COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES INC

ENERGY PROGRAMS:WEATHERIZATION: AT KANKAKEE COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC., THE ILLINOIS HOME WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SERVICED 26 HOMES OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES IN 2023. WEATHERIZATION SERVICES CONSIST OF COST-EFFECTIVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES FOR EXISTING RESIDENTIAL AND MULTIFAMILY HOUSING WITH LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS. THERE ARE THREE COMPONENTS TO THE WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM: MECHANICAL, ARCHITECTURAL AND HEALTH AND SAFETY. THE MECHANICAL COMPONENT ADDRESSES THE HEATING AND COOLING OPERATIONAL SYSTEM, HOT WATER HEATER AND THE VENTILATION OF THE HOME. THE ARCHITECTURAL COMPONENT ADDRESSES THE WHOLE HOUSE, WHICH INCLUDES THE OUTER SHELL, THE INSULATION, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND AIR SEALING. THE HEALTH AND SAFETY COMPONENT PROTECTS THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE CLIENT AND THEIR FAMILY AS WELL AS THE IHWAP WORKERS.LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP):THE LIHEAP IS A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES AN OFFSET TO THE HIGH COST OF HEAT RELATED UTILITIES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. FOR HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE DISCONNECTED FROM A HEATING SOURCE, THE RE-CONNECT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROVIDES GUIDELINES TO HELP GET THE HOUSEHOLD SERVICES RESTORED UPON COMPLETION OF APPLICATION.THE EMERGENCY FURNACE PROGRAM PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS WITH A NON-OPERATIONAL FURNACE.COMED CARE ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OFFER THE RESIDENTIAL SPECIAL HARDSHIP FUND FOR HOUSEHOLDS IN NEED. THIS GRANT PROVIDES ASSISTANCE BEYOND OTHER PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS SPECIAL HARDSHIP CASES.OUR LIHEAP PROGRAM SERVICED AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 3,659 LOW INCOME FAMILIES IN KANKAKEE COUNTY WITH AT LEAST ONE PAYMENT CREATED AND APPROVED. THE DAYS OF CARE PROVIDED WERE 246 BUSINESS DAYS.

SENIOR PROGRAMS: SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICES EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM: THE SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO OLDER ADULTS OF AGE 55+ WHO ARE AT OR BELOW 125% POVERTY. THESE INDIVIDUALS, ALSO KNOWN AS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, ARE GIVEN ACCESS TO TRAINING SITES VIA NON-PROFIT OR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES LOCATED IN THE COUNTIES OF WILL AND KANKAKEE. EACH INDIVIDUAL CAN TRAIN FOR 20-29 HOURS A WEEK WHILE EARNING AN HOURLY WAGE EQUIVALENT TO THE IL MINIMUM WAGE RATE. EACH PERSON IS REQUIRED TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT WHILE TRAINING AND ENGAGE IN WORKSHOPS, JOB FAIRS AND OTHER JOB DEVELOPMENT OR SKILL ENHANCING OPPORTUNITIES. WHILE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS LEARN SKILLS ASSOCIATED WITH POSITIONS THAT INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, CLERICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, CHILDCARE, MAINTENANCE AND JANITORIAL, CASE MANAGEMENT, INVENTORY, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROVIDED BY AGENCIES THAT INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE CITY OF KANKAKEE, CENTER OF HOPE FOOD PANTRY, THE SALVATION ARMY, AND WILL COUNTY CENTER FOR COMMUNITY CONCERNS. THE PROGRAM HAS 10 PARTNERING AGENCIES IN WILL COUNTY AND 9 IN KANKAKEE COUNTY.DURING THE 2023 CALENDAR YEAR, 50 OLDER ADULTS RECEIVED 32,884.50 HOURS OF TRAINING; 2 PARTICIPANT TRANSITIONED ONTO REAL-WORLD EMPLOYMENT.