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MEMBER-ACCESSED TRAININGS AND RESOURCES WITH JUST ONE CLICK
May 4-6, 2025 | BOS Center, Springfield, IL
Quickly find and connect with your local Community Action Agency using our easy-to-navigate lookup tool, designed to help you access vital services and resources near you.
Find Your Local Agency
What is Community Action?
Community Action happens when the people living in a place act to improve their lives and community.
Community Action Agencies serve communities by providing direct assistance to residents in all 102 Illinois counties. You can find your Community Action Agency by entering your address in the look up tool.
The Illinois Community Action Association
The Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies (IACAA) provides training, technical assistance, and communication to help Community Action Agencies work more effectively and improve their services for people and neighborhoods in need. The Association also advocates for public policy changes to help all Illinois residents thrive, regardless of income.
IACAA does not provide services directly. We support the local Community Action Agencies that serve your community.
Please enter your address above to find your Community Action Agency. Illinois Community Action Agencies are here to help you, and they welcome your help if you can give back to your community.
Community Action Services
Because the programs are community-based, specific programs vary from county to county. Illinois Community Action Agencies:
- Help make utility bills more affordable through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
- Prevent utility disconnection.
- Assist with utility reconnection.
- Repair or replace broken or dangerous furnaces for eligible households.
- Improve energy conservation and home safety through the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP).
- Provide College scholarships for qualifying students.
- Help with job training or finding a job.
- Disaster recovery services.
- Provide no-cost, high-quality Head Start preschool services. (Not available in all communities.)
- Community improvement projects that benefit the entire community.
Even if your local Community Action Agency does not provide what you need, they can help you locate other resources in your community. Each Community Action Agency is connected to a network of local organizations and resources.
The Promise of Community Action
Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live.
We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.
Community Voice
Volunteer Boards of Directors lead Illinois Community Action Agencies, ensuring that community voices are at the heart of decision-making. With at least one-third of each board being representatives from low-income communities, our agencies are directly informed by the people they serve. Funded through a mix of federal, state, and local sources, each Community Action Agency focuses on addressing community priorities. Together, they work to stabilize families, provide transformative education, and craft innovative solutions to combat the root causes of poverty—making Illinois a stronger and more vibrant place to live.
IACAA News
Webinar: How to Leverage USDA Grants for Home Repairs
Learn how to generate non-restricted income while assisting families to get home safely repairs or purchase a home with the USDA certified loan packager program.
Webinar: Everyday Influence
Everyday Influence: Encouraging Change without Authority Speaker: Becky Gabany Becky Gabany has dedicated her career to community engagement and facilitating positive change. With a Master’s degree in Human Services and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Becky has more than a decade of experience in healthcare focused on community engagement. Date:
Commentary: Hidden Helpers and Five Hard Truths
Disclaimer: This article was originally published on February 26, 2025, by Tri-States Public Radio. It was written by Jamie Roth, Community Services & Public Relations Director for WIRC-Community Action Agency. Original article can be viewed here. There is a famous quote by Fred Rogers who said his mother encouraged him
