Local County Uses Stimulus Money to Help Needy

Helping low-income families buy new school clothes is one way Sangamon County is using federal stimulus money to help people in need.

With the infusion of stimulus cash, the county Community Resources Office has created programs to help people cover the costs of school clothes or dental bills, among other expenses. And some existing programs, such as one that helps people pay the cost of going to and from work, are being expanded.

The new initiatives also include a voucher program that pays for copies of birth certificates for people who want to enroll their children in the Springfield School District’s Early Start program.
Sharmin Doering, executive director of Sangamon County Community Resources, said the new programs were developed with advice from county board members and the general public.
“Last year, we surveyed 2,287 of our customers who came in,” Doering said. “We talked about greatest needs in the community.

“We are excited that we are now able to meet some of the needs that we haven’t been able to address in the past.”

The school clothing vouchers can be redeemed only at the K-Mart on Clear Lake Avenue. The county has $25,000 on hand for clothing. Qualifying families can receive a $50 voucher for each child, up to four children.

Sangamon County Board member Tim Moore was at the K-Mart Thursday when the new program was announced.

“When the kids go to school, they want to look good, and they want to feel good about themselves,” Moore said.

Other stores were asked if they wanted to participate, but couldn’t clear it with corporate headquarters in time, he said.

“The K-mart on Clear Lake was ready, willing and able to go with this program,” Moore said.
People interested in one of the programs must be Sangamon County residents and must meet income guidelines. To apply, people need to call Sangamon County Community Resources at 535-3120 on pre-determined days and set up appointments.

The only exception is the birth certificate program. People who want birth certificate vouchers need to call the Springfield School District at 525-3163 Sept. 2 to set up appointments.

The county is working on additional programs funded by the stimulus program, Moore said.
“We want to take the money the federal and state governments are giving us and use it up,” he said. “We want our community, our citizens across the county, to maximize the benefits of those programs.”

John Reynolds can be reached at 788-1524.

Applying for county vouchers

*School clothing: $50 per child. People can call the county any Friday to set up appointments. The program has a total of $25,000 to distribute.

*Rent and dental work: Call-in days are the third and fourth Mondays of the month. Rental benefit pays up to $400 directly to landlord. Totals of $94,446 are available for rent assistance, $41,675 for dental assistance and $10,000 in denture assistance.

*Transportation to and from work: Funds can be used for gas, car repairs or bus tokens. Call-in-days are the second and third Wednesdays of each month. Total of $10,000 available.

*Prescription drugs/medication: Call-in days are Thursdays. Program has $46,675 available

*Birth certificates for early start students: Appointments can be made by calling the Springfield School District at 525-3163 on Sept. 2. Voucher covers $20 cost of the copy of a birth certificate, which is required to enroll a student in the Springfield School District’s Early Start program. Program has $3,200 available.

Income guidelines

To qualify for county vouchers, people must meet annual income guidelines of:

Single person, $21,660; family of two, $29,140; family of three, $36,620; family of four, $44,100; family of five, $51,580; family of six, $59,060; family of seven, $66,540; family of eight, $74,020.

For families with more than eight members, add $7,480 for each additional member.


By JOHN REYNOLDS
THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER