The Urban League is a non-profit organization in Madison County that helps people in the community with housing, education, and employment opportunities. The organization offers emergency financial aid for rent, prescriptions and utility bills, however the focus of the agency is on helping people find jobs and providing job training.
Financial aid from the Urban League
Outreach specialists from the agency will help coordinate an assessment process. If the client’s needs cannot be met by the services offered, they will be referred to another service. This can include giving money for expenses such as rent to help someone get a job or even help them be self-sufficient by giving them services such as credit counseling.
The people at the resource center help people from Madison County get the social services they need. The staff uses information from conversations with clients to suggest resources that the family may need to deal with their current situation. As outreach specialists, we help connect people in the Madison region to various assistance programs and community-based services that they may be eligible for.
The Madison County Urban League has been certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) since the early 1980s and housing is an essential part of their programs. The agency can help individuals and families who are homeless, at risk of foreclosure or eviction. There are government programs that may be able to help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Oftentimes, case workers help stabilize their clients by finding money to pay for their overdue expenses, or by finding new, low income housing for them to reside in.
The MCUL also works to prevent foreclosures in Illinois. The organization offers mortgage delinquency counseling to homeowners who are struggling to make their payments and are at risk of foreclosure. This service provides people with the knowledge and tools they need to stay current on their mortgage payments and avoid foreclosure.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, can help you pay your heating bill and other utility bills. The government provides financial assistance in the form of grants to low-income households in Madison to help with the cost of heating and cooling their homes. In order to qualify for LIHEAP, the applicant must be an individual who is a member of an eligible household and the household’s energy bills must be in the applicant’s name.
This means that if a family is in need of emergency assistance, they can receive it. This assistance is available to families who may not have a lot of money or who are struggling to make ends meet. The Madison County Urban League family development advocates help people with their rent payments, prescription medications, utility expenses and other needs by providing them with financial aid or short-term loans. Emergency services are funded by the community through donations.
The local family-planning clinic is another resource from MCUL. This website provides a variety of services for both men and women. The clinic has been open for more than 30 years and has helped thousands of people during that time. Staff members give clients information about ways to plan their families, and offer laboratory services, private counseling, physical examinations, education and outreach.
Madison area employment and educational services
There are also educational programs in the area. The Urban League created these programs to give young people the skills they need to succeed. The program includes services to help students learn and be aware of nutrition, as well as transportation to school or other classes. The Madison County Urban League strives to get parents more involved in their children’s education.
The agency provides a GED program with free, personalized tutoring. The credit union offers periodic workshops and classes, as well as financial assistance for GED testing. Obtaining one of these degrees improves your employment opportunities and allows you to pursue higher education.
The organization provides a free service that helps employers to connect with potential employees who live in the surrounding community. These locations provide job seekers with access to local resources to help them find employment, ideally full-time positions.
Staff work with clients to create plans detailing the steps they need to take to find employment, as well as providing them with information on training and educational resources that may be helpful to them. Workshops are offered to provide support during job searches, and training services include entry-level courses, English-as-a-second-language classes, and also certificate programs. These programs aim to help individuals land a job, improve their language skills, or earn a certificate that will help them get ahead in their careers.
Some employers or non-profits in the area offer on-the-job training opportunities. These are some other services that can be provided: helping with applications and resumes, finding job postings, exploring different careers, talking to someone about job choices, and practicing or doing fake interviews.
These services are available for individuals or small groups. The job and career centers have computers that clients can use for free. The computers have printers and fax machines. The centers have electronic job listings and information on careers and high-demand occupations.
In addition, MCUL offers job fairs throughout Madison County. The organization partners with businesses in the community to find people who fit the description of what the business is looking for. This organization also puts on job fairs for community members to meet with different businesses, organizations, and government agencies.
The Urban League has multiple offices in Madison County. If you need more information about any of our services, you can contact us at 502 Madison Avenue, Madison, Illinois 62060. Our phone number is (618) 877-8860. The other office is located at 408 East Broadway in Alton, Illinois. The mailing address is P.O. Box 8093. The phone number for this office is (618) 463-1906.