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Community Partners & Resources: Community Resources

A Guide For Residents of Waubonsee Community College District 516

Community Resources text, graphic of resources including human, money, light bulb, and time, and photo of a community garden.

Photo Credit:  Created by the author in Canva.

This page contains links to sites for community partners located throughout the Waubonsee Community College District 516.  These resources range from mental health assistance, to food assistance, to housing and employment services.  

Although there are many resources listed here, there may be even more out there.  If you know of a community agency that would be beneficial for students, employees, and community members of Waubonsee to know about, please have them complete the "Waubonsee Libraries Community Partner Request" form on the right side of the page.

Waubonsee Community Agencies

The Arc Illinois Logo

The Arc of Illinois

The Arc of Illinois is an organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  This link will direct you to the location and contact information for the Aurora office dedicated to independent living.  

Association for Individual Development Logo

Association for Individual Development

The Association for Individual Development (AID) serves individuals with developmental, intellectual, physical and/or mental health challenges, those who have suffered a trauma and those at risk.  Information on services and resources ranging from crisis care to employment to hot lunch programs are available at the link above, just click the AID logo.  

Donka, Inc. Logo

Donka, Inc.

Donka can help provide computer training and job readiness skills to people with physical, visual, and limiting learning disabilities.  This non-profit organization also helps provide services to veterans, and has financial support options.   

Family Counseling Service Logo

Family Counseling Service

Family Counseling Service is located in Aurora and Oswego, and provides behavioral healthcare and counseling services.  Services range from counseling to medication assessment and management to substance abuse.  Family Counseling Services also provides a First Responder Behavioral Health program specifically for first responders who may have concerns seeking behavioral health treatment.  

IDHS Logo

Illinois Department of Human Services Client Assistance Program

The Illinois Client Assistance Program (CAP) is a service available to help persons with disabilities understand and utilize rehabilitation services offered to them through the Illinois Department of Human Services.  Anyone who is looking for information, or ready to apply for services from the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), Vocational Rehabilitation, or the Center for Independent Living can contact CAP.  

Photo of adult hugging a child and IDHS Logo

Illinois Department of Human Services Office of Rehabilitation Services (VR)

At the Illinois Department of Human Services Office of Rehabilitation Services (VR) site, you can apply for and manage your SNAP and medical assistance resources, apply for childcare assistance, report fraud, abuse, or neglect, find tax forms, and more!  

Learning Ally Logo

Learning Ally (Formerly Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFBD))

Learning Ally is a non-profit organization helping to find and provide equitable learning solutions that help those with reading disabilities, including blindness, visual impairments, dyslexia, and more.  Learning Ally has over 80,000 accessible audio textbooks and literature titles, one of the largest in the world!

Mutual Ground Logo

Mutual Ground

As a community resource for families and individuals impacted by domestic and/or sexual violence and substance use disorders, Mutual Ground provides services from a crisis hotline to residential assistance to legal help and medical advocacy.  If you or someone you know needs assistance and are in the Aurora area, this is a wonderful resource.  

NAMI Logo

National Alliance on Mental Illness Kane-South DeKalb and Kendall Counties (NAMI KDK)

This branch of NAMI encompasses anyone in the Kane-South, DeKalb, and Kendall county communities.  NAMI provides services that range from support groups, to educational webinars, to community events.  All of these events help provide advocacy, education, and support for individuals, family members, and communities needing mental health assistance.

Pace Logo

Kane County ADA Paratransit with Pace

For anyone needing paratransit services (even outside of the Waubonsee District, but within Illinois), this link provides a contact directory for all paratransit reservations through Pace.

Local Food Resources

Kendall County Community Food Pantry

Kendall County Community Food Pantry

The Kendall County Community Food Pantry offers pickup locations in Oswego, Plano, and Yorkville.  In addition to food related resources, Kendall County Community Food Pantry also offers medical services, clothing options, and pet food.  

Registration is required.

Northern Illinois Foodbank Logo

Northern Illinois Foodbank

Mobile Markets (some that even take place at Waubonsee Community College) offer free and fresh weekly groceries.  Click here to view upcoming events in the area.    

No ID, proof of income, or referral is needed.  

Illinois Valley Food Pantry

Illinois Valley Food Pantry

For residents of LaSalle County, who are experiencing "emergency circumstances" such as:

  • Lack of employment or insufficient income.
  • Food stamps or other public aid delayed or have run out.
  • Family resources depleted by sickness or old age.

Registration is required.

DeKalb County Community Gardens

DeKalb County Community Gardens

The DeKalb County Community Gardens offer a variety of programs for food assistance:

  • Grow Mobile offers fresh, healthy foods delivered to areas of DeKalb County.
  • Box of Hope provides fresh, locally grown vegetables for DeKalb families in need.
  • Food Pantries have fresh, locally grown vegetables.

Each program may have different requirements.  Some do not require registration.

Local Housing Resources

DuPage and Kendall Housing Authorities Logo

DuPage and Kendall County Housing Authorities

Housing services for both DuPage and Kendall Counties can be found here.  Information is provided on applying for housing assistance, Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing Program, landlord resources, employment opportunities, and more.

Hesed House Logo

Hesed House

Hesed House is the second largest homeless shelter in Illinois.  They are equipped to help assist with seeking shelter, facing eviction, shutting off utilities, support with security deposits, counseling through traumatic experiences, job guidance, and more.  

Housing Authority for LaSalle County Logo

Housing Authority for LaSalle County

The Housing Authority for LaSalle County has resources on applying for housing assistance, information on communities within the county, and more.

Housing Authority of DeKalb County Logo

Housing Authority of DeKalb County

The Housing Authority of DeKalb County provides resources including applications for housing assistance, administering Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance, landlord information, and more. 

The Aurora Housing Authority Logo

The Aurora Housing Authority

The mission of the Aurora Housing Authority is to "...provide safe, decent and affordable housing for the people of the City of Aurora."  Here you will find information on how to apply for affordable housing, make rent payments, landlord resources, and more.  

Waubonsee Community Resources Guide

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