by:Emma Lansky
It is a sad truth that most of us will know extreme
hardship at some point in our lives. At such a time, it is
important to know that we have people in our corner that we
can count on should a need arise. Unfortunately, with more
and more families ending in broken homes and with the
disconnected and isolated nature of our world, such help is
not always easy to find.
Much as has been the case with Hurricane Katrina, in times
of distress and emergency it is good to know that the
government is there to help. After all, we have paid taxes
in all our lives so it is acceptable to turn around and
need some social services once in awhile. However, some
states and local governments are more helpful to its
citizens than others.
Illinois is one of the greatest states to live in because
of its commitment to the well-being of its citizens. In
times of need, social support and services are available to
help in the state of Illinois. While there is not time to
list all of the options available to citizens, here a few
of the great ones to keep in mind.
Since winters are usually very harsh in the Midwest often
the heating bills can get out of control for Illinois
residents. So the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance
Program (IHWAP) comes to their rescue to design homes for
the cold and cruel winters and help them become more energy
efficient thereby reducing the heating costs.
IHWAP helps low income families survive the harsh Midwest
winters by getting replacement windows and weatherizing your
home against the vagaries of nature. It goes to the extent
of arranging licensed contractors to come to your home and
maintain your heating and air conditioning systems.
For people who are down on their luck and barely scraping
by, health care costs can be cause for major concern. This
is especially the case for single parents who cannot afford
the health care services that their children need.
Fortunately, the state of Illinois provides much needed
assistance to people with children in need of medical care.
Kid Care is the Illinois state program that offers health
care coverage for children living in low income families.
The service also provides pregnant mothers with the
resources they need to obtain proper neonatal care. Plus,
for parents who have insurance through their employer or a
private insurance company, the state of Illinois will pay
those premiums in certain circumstances.
The state of Illinois has a number of other great programs
meant to enrich and improve the quality of life of its
residents. Whether you are in need of help in paying a
high utility bill or seek treatment for a chemical or
substance abuse addiction, the state of Illinois has
programs to help you get back on your feet. While none of
us prepare or plan for hardship, the truth is that it
sometimes finds us and by the kind graces of states like
Illinois, we are able to persevere in such trying times.
Emma Lansky writes exclusively for Fair Illinois, it’s one of the webs most up to date Illinois sites, while you’re there sign up for the free newsletter. Read many more interesting articles on Illinois at: http://www.fairillinois.com/articles http://www.fairillinois.com
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