12.16.10

Durbin Announces More Than $1.7 Million in Grants for Chicago Community Service Organizations

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) has awarded roughly $1,720,000 in funding to 10 Chicago nonprofit organizations working to expand economic opportunities. Grantees will use this funding to help low income families boost their earnings, reduce expenses, and make better financial decisions.

 

CNCS is a federal agency that leads President Obama’s national call to service initiatives and engages more than 5 million Americans to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Today’s funding was awarded through the Local Initiative Support Corporation which is a national nonprofit organization that combines corporate, government, and philanthropic support to help community residents transform distressed neighborhoods into healthy and sustainable communities of choice and opportunity.

 

The following organizations will receive funding under today’s announcement:

 

  • Association House: $150,000 in funding to develop new job training and readiness programs and expand income support and job placement services. Association House expects to help 122 clients obtain employment, 130 improve their net income, and 25 improve their credit scores.
  • The Cara Program: $175,000 in fundingto expand employment and financial services coaching to neighborhood residents. The Cara Program expects to help 55 clients obtain employment, 117 improve their net income, and 70 improve their credit scores.
  • Central States SER: $155,000 in funding to launch a new financial opportunity center in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. Central States SER expects to help 120 clients obtain employment, 80 improve their net income, and 30 improve their credit scores.
  • Greater Southwest Development Corporation: $140,000 in funding to increase the number of clients accessing financial coaching services. Greater Southwest Development Corporation expects to help 75 clients obtain employment, 75 improve their net income, and 52 improve their credit scores.
  • Humboldt Park Social Services: $140,000 in funding to prove long-term, intensive services to clients, as well as ongoing follow-up and tracking to ensure clients are meeting financial stability outcomes. Humboldt Park Social Services expects to help 48 clients obtain employment, 63 improve their net income, and 35 improve their credit scores.
  • Instituto del Progresso Latino: $360,000 in funding to increase the reach of its services to three new populations: graduating seniors of the Rudy Lozano Leadership Academy, parents of students enrolled in the Academy, and working single mothers. Instituto del Progresso Latino expects to help 175 clients obtain employment, 175 improve their new income, and 10 improve their credit scores.
  • Jane Addams Hull House: $180,000 in fundingto operate a new financial opportunity center serving the 63rd Street Corridor made up of the Englewood, Washington Park and Woodlawn communities. Jane Addams Hull House expects to help 98 clients obtain employment, 40 improve their net income, and 18 improve their credit scores.
  • Jane Addams Resource Corporation: $155,000 in funding to increase the number of clients receiving support services and bundled services. Jane Addams Resource Corporation expects to help 55 clients obtain employment, 60 improve their net income, and 65 improve their credit scores.
  • North Lawndale Employment Network: $140,000 in funding to expand services offered by its Center for Working Families. North Lawndale Employment Network expects to help 168 clients obtain employment, 70 improve their net income, and 100 improve their credit scores.
  • Safer Foundation: $125,000 in funding to establish a new financial opportunity center to assist residents of East Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, and the Near West Side achieve economic stability. Safer Foundation expects to help 150 clients obtain employment, 100 improve their net income, and 75 improve their credit scores.