Governor Blagojevich urges Illinoisans to take advantage of statewide cooling centers and energy assistance programs to stay safe during period of excessive heat

CHICAGO - With searing summer temperatures continuing, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today urged Illinoisans, especially the elderly, young families and persons with disabilities, to take advantage of statewide cooling centers and sent a letter to the Illinois Municipal League asking its nearly 2,000 local government members to make additional cooling center locations available in their communities. In addition, the Governor reminded residents struggling with high utility costs that up to $9 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding is available starting today.

 

"As the heat index hits dangerously high levels, we want to remind families throughout the state to take advantage of resources available through the Keep Cool Illinois campaign so they can stay safe and healthy during this intense and life threatening heat," said Governor Blagojevich.  "Extremely hot weather can cause serious health problems for everyone.  Families who think they may eligible for energy assistance should apply today so they can keep their air conditioning and fans running. For those who have no air conditioning in their homes or no cool place to go, statewide cooling centers offer a clean, safe place to take refuge from the heat."

 

Earlier this month, the Illinois Department of Human Services made more than 100 office buildings throughout the state available to serve as cooling centers. The centers are open all day and offer Illinoisans a safe and cool place to get out of the intense heat.

 

In addition, the Governor directed the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) to make $8 million in state and federal funding available today, through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program's (LIHEAP) summer cooling program, to protect vulnerable populations them from dangerous weather conditions and assist them with their household energy bills . ComEd gave HFS another $1 million for the LIHEAP program last week.  Through the LIHEAP summer cooling program, electricity bill payments will be made on behalf of vulnerable residents at risk of losing electric service. 

 

"We are urging families who think they may be eligible for energy assistance to apply as soon as possible, so they can protect themselves and their loved ones from these dangerous weather conditions," said Barry Maram, Director of HFS.

 

LIHEAP is a state- and federally-funded energy assistance program that assists households with incomes of up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level.  A single-person household can qualify with a monthly income of up to $1,225, a two-person household up to $1,650, and a family of four can earn up to $2,500. Benefits will be paid directly to the household's electric utility.

 

The energy grant applications will be processed through a network of 35 local administering agencies around the state.  The Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County - the local administering agency for Cook County - has over 100 locations where applications are being accepted. These agencies will accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis from eligible households July 31 through August 18, or until funding for the summer program is exhausted.

 

To help all Illinoisans stay healthy, safe and cool this summer, the Governor launched the statewide, comprehensive Keep Cool Illinois campaign and website last month. The Keep Cool Illinois campaign is multi-agency effort to inform Illinois residents, especially the elderly, families with small children, homeless, and persons with disabilities, how to prevent heat-related health problems, reduce their utility bills and participate in summer activities safely.   More information on how Illinoisans can avoid health complications brought on by the heat, apply for energy assistance grants as well as find a cooling center in their community can call 1-877-411-9276 or go online to www.keepcool.illinois.gov.

 

The Keep Cool Illinois website and hotline offer various no-cost and low-cost energy saving tips, links to energy assistance programs, firework safety tips, West Nile virus prevention guides, a list of cooling center locations and other available state resources. 

In addition to the website and the statewide network of cooling centers, the Keep Cool Illinois campaign includes targeted outreach to vulnerable senior citizens, energy assistance programs, public service announcements, fire safety, water safety and other tips to help families across Illinois prepare for the summer.

 

Complete list of statewide cooling centers attached.

 

DHS Family Community Resource Centers

 

Office                                                                           Address

 

Chicago - Austin                                                           408 North Laramie Avenue

Chicago -Calumet Park                                                831 West 119th Street

Chicago-Englewood                                                     5323 South Western Avenue

Chicago-Garfield                                                          500 North Pulaski Road 

Chicago- FSE&T                                                         935 West Monroe

Chicago- Humboldt Park                                              2753 West North Avenue

Chicago-Lower North                                      2650 West Fulton Street

Chicago-Michigan                                                        70 East 21st Street

Chicago-Northwest                                                      4105 West Chicago Avenue

Chicago-Oakland                                                         610 West Root Street

Chicago Park Manor                                                    1642 West 59^th Street

Chicago-Roseland                                                        11203 S. Ellis Street

Chicago-South Suburban                                              14820 South Kedzie Street

Chicago - Southeast                                                       8001 South Cottage Grove Avenue

Chicago- Western                                                         3910 West Ogden

Chicago -Wicker Park                                                   1279 North Milwaukee

Chicago -Woodlawn                                                      915 East 63^rd Street

Melrose Park - West Suburban                                      2701 West Lake Street

Skokie-Northern                                                          8020 St. Louis Avenue

Adams County, Quincy                                                 300 Maine Street

Alexander County, Cairo                                              1401 Washington Avenue

Boone County, Belvidere                                              2090 Pearl Street

Calhoun County, Hardin                                               807 West Main Street

Carroll County, Mt. Carroll                                           820 South Mill Road

Cass County, Beardstown                                            300 East Second Street

Champaign County, Champaign                                    801 North Walnut Street

Christian County, Taylorville                             1100 North Cheney

Clark County, Marshall                                                 315 South 14^th Street

Clay County, Louisville                                                 850 Bryant Street

Clinton County, Carlyle                                     1130 12^th Street

Coles County, Charleston                                             119 West State Street

Crawford County, Robinson                                         1110 North Allen Street

Dekalb County, Dekalb                                                1629 Afton Road

DuPage County, Villa Park                                           146 W. Roosevelt Road

Fayette County, Vandalia                                              228 West Johnson Road

Franklin County, Benton                                               1602 North Main Street 

Fulton County, Lewiston                                               1329 North Main Street

Gallatin County, Shawneetown                          9525 Gold Hill Road

Hamilton County, McLeansboro                                   Route 14 East 

Jackson County, Murphysboro                         342 North Street

Jasper County, Newton                                                910 South Van Buren Street

Jefferson County, Mt. Vernon                           333 Potomac Boulevard

JoDaviess County, Galena                                            708 South West Street

Kane County, Aurora                                                   361 Old Indian Trail

Kane County, Elgin                                                       600 South State Street

Kankakee County, Kankakee                                       285 North Schuyler Avenue 

Kendall County, Yorkville                                             1304 Game Farm Road

Knox County, Galesburg                                              477 East Main Street

Lake County, Park City                                                3235 West Belvidere

LaSalle County, Ottawa                                                700 Centennial Drive

Lawrence County, Lawrenceville                                  R.R. 1, Box 418

Madison County, East Alton                                         608 West St. Louis Avenue

Madison County, Granite City                           1925 Madison Avenue

Marion County, Centralia                                              800 South Locust Street

Massac County, Metroplis                                            2301 Metropolis Street

McHenry County, Woodstock                          2215 Lake Shore Drive

McLean County, Bloomington                          501 West Washington

Ogle County, Oregon                                                   106 North Second Street

Peoria County, Peoria                                       2301 N.E. Adams Street

Perry County, Duquoin                                     314 North Maple Street

Pope County, Golconda                                               106 North Market Street

Pulaski County, Mounds                                               422 South Blanche Street

Randolph County, Chester                                            870 Lehman Drive

Richland County, Olney                                                1406 Martin Street

Rock Island County, Rock Island                                  2821 Fifth Street

Saline County, Harrisburg                                             320 East Raymond Street

St. Clair County, Belleville                                            1220 Centreville Avenue

St. Clair County, East St. Louis                         225 North 9^th Street

Stephenson County, Freeport                                       1631 South Galena Avenue

Tazewell County, Pekin                                                200 South Second Street

Vermilion County, Danville                                            220 South Bowman Avenue

Wabash County, Mt. Carmel                                        229 West 2^nd Street

Wayne County, Fairfield                                               215 S.E. 3^rd Street

White County, Carmi                                                    1112 Oak Street

Whiteside County, Sterling                                            2605 Woodlawn Road

Will County, Joliet                                                        45 East Webster Street

Williamson County, Marion                                           1107 West DeYoung

Winnebago County, Rockford                          1111 North Avon Street

 

DHS Rehabilitation Services Offices

 

Arlington Heights                                                          715 Algonquin Road Suite A

Aurora                                                                         888 South Edgelawn Drive Suite 1771

Bloomington                                                                 207 South Prospect Road

Champaign                                                                   1307 North Mattis Avenue 

Chicago                                                                        8840 South Stony Island

Chicago                                                                        7600 South Pulaski

Chicago                                                                        6200 North Hiawatha, Suite 300

Chicago                                                                        500 North Pulaski Road

Chicago                                                                        8600 South Pulaski Road

Chicago                                                                        1151 South Wood Street

Chicago                                                                        100 West Randolph

Chicago Heights                                                           1010 Dixie Highway 4^th floor

Danville                                                                        407 North Franklin

Decatur                                                                        1065 West Pershing Road 

Dekalb                                                                         1330 Oakwood Drive

Downers Grove                                                            2901 Finley Avenue Suite 109

Elgin                                                                             452 North McLean Boulevard 2^nd Floor

Evergreen Park                                                 9730 South Western Suite 612

Freeport                                                                       773 West Lincoln

Galesburg                                                                     256 South Soangetaha Road

Jacksonville                                                                  1429 South Main Street Suite C   

Joliet                                                                            1617 West Jefferson Street

LaSalle                                                                         905 Second Street

Mt. Vernon                                                                  333 Potomac Suite F

Olney                                                                           1112 South West Street

Peoria                                                                          2301 Northeast Adams Street

Quincy                                                                         2435 Broadway

Rock Island                                                                  4711 44^th Street

Springfield                                                                    400 West Lawrence

Springfield                                                                    1124 North Walnut 

Sterling                                                                         2607 Woodlawn Road Suite #1