Will County Center for Community Concerns: Visitor Guide

Office Hours & Application Cutoff Times

Holiday closures: The agency observes major holidays, including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and other posted holidays. Check holiday availability before traveling.

If transportation, disability or scheduling makes visiting difficult, call the main office and ask about alternative arrangements or outreach locations.

Which Program Should You Ask For?

LIHEAP 2026–27: Utility Assistance

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible households with energy costs. Depending on qualification, assistance may include a one-time utility benefit, help with disconnected service or emergency furnace work.

October priority period: Applicants must meet at least one priority condition, such as a household member age 60+, a child age 5 or younger, qualifying disability benefits, imminent utility disconnection, already-disconnected service or a homeowner with an inoperable furnace.

Starting November 2026: Applications open to other income-eligible households. Assistance is first-come, first-served and can end earlier if funds are exhausted.

2026–27 LIHEAP Income Limits

The agency publishes two different income tests depending on the energy provider. These are maximum household income amounts for the previous 30 days.

The 300% federal-poverty category covers customers of listed utilities including ComEd, Nicor Gas, Ameren Illinois, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas. The other category applies to specified federally funded energy vendors, including some propane providers and the City of Naperville.

Households with five or more people: Ask the agency for the applicable larger-household income table rather than estimating the limit.

Documents for LIHEAP

• Recent gas and electricity bills.
• Photo identification or driver’s license.
• Social Security cards for household members.
• Proof of income from all sources for the previous 30 days.
• Benefit statements for Social Security, SNAP, TANF, veterans assistance or other applicable benefits.
• For unemployed adults, documentation concerning DHS or Illinois unemployment benefits, as requested.
• For furnace assistance, proof of homeownership, such as a mortgage statement or property deed and tax bill.

How to Apply for LIHEAP

1. Check your utility provider and income. Use the correct eligibility column above.
2. Check the application period. Confirm whether your household qualifies during October or the general November opening.
3. Prepare household documents. Collect bills, identification, income evidence and other required records.
4. Choose an application location. Visit the main Joliet office or an approved outreach location.
5. Complete the agency application. Follow intake instructions and provide any missing documentation requested by staff.
6. Ask about the decision and payment. A standard LIHEAP benefit is usually paid to an energy vendor; cases involving utilities included in rent may be handled differently.

No overdue bill or shutoff notice is required for ordinary LIHEAP direct-vendor assistance. The benefit amount depends on household circumstances and program rules.

PIPP update: The agency currently states that the Percentage of Income Payment Plan accepts recertifications only, not new applications.

Rental Assistance: Eligibility & Required Documents

WCCCC offers rental assistance for qualifying households behind on rent or needing help with first-month rent and a deposit. Availability depends on current program funds, hardship verification and other eligibility conditions.

Prepare these documents before applying:

• Current late-rent or eviction notice, showing landlord contact information.
• Copy of the lease.
• Evidence explaining the financial hardship or emergency.
• Proof of expenses paid during the previous 30 days.
• Photo identification and household Social Security cards.
• Gross household income records for the previous 30 days.
• DHS benefit determination documents, where applicable.
• Current bank statements.
• Appropriate no-income evidence for adults without earnings.

Rental Application Steps

1. Identify the exact amount overdue or the first-month rent needed.
2. Get the landlord’s notice, lease and contact information.
3. Gather proof of income, expenses and the emergency that caused the difficulty.
4. Call 815-722-0722 and ask whether rental assistance is accepting applications.
5. Ask whether an appointment is necessary and which original documents to bring.
6. Complete intake and respond to any request for additional verification.

Read the agency’s current rental assistance requirements.

Housing Counseling, Mortgage Help & Foreclosure Prevention

WCCCC is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. It offers homebuyer education, budget and credit counseling, and foreclosure prevention counseling. The agency states that its foreclosure counseling is free to homeowners.

For foreclosure counseling, prepare recent mortgage statements, foreclosure notices, a hardship explanation, photo ID, household bills, income records for the past 90 days, bank statements and property tax or insurance documents.

For some mortgage loss-mitigation cases, the agency also requests two years of signed tax returns and supporting wage or business-income records.

Next step: Call 815-722-0722 and request a housing counselor. You can also review the official foreclosure prevention instructions.

Home Weatherization & Energy-Saving Repairs

Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) helps qualifying households lower energy costs and improve home comfort and safety. Work may include energy assessments, insulation, air sealing and eligible heating-system improvements.

The county’s published guidance says qualified weatherization labor and materials are supplied at no cost to approved households. This is different from general home renovation or unrestricted remodeling assistance.

Weatherization Document Checklist

• Photo ID and Social Security cards for household members.
• Gross income records for adults covering the previous 90 days.
• Most recent gas and electricity bills.
• Property deed, tax bill, mortgage statement or other acceptable ownership evidence.
• Current lease if renting; the landlord may need to verify ownership and authorize eligible work.

To start, use the Illinois DCEO weatherization application page, follow its instructions, and provide documentation requested for your household.

Some improvements are decided after an inspection. Approval does not mean every requested repair will be performed.

Other Individual & Family Support

Services are not all continuously funded or open for enrollment. Ask staff to check every relevant program instead of assuming one application covers all assistance.

Outreach Locations Across Will County

Residents who cannot easily reach Joliet may be able to meet WCCCC staff at partner libraries, townships and other outreach sites.

The agency lists locations including:

• Crete Township: 1367 Wood Street, Crete.
• DuPage Township: 241 Canterbury Lane, Bolingbrook, IL 60440.
• Fossil Ridge Public Library: Kennedy and Walker area, Braidwood.
• Frankfort Township: 11000 W Lincoln Highway, Frankfort.

Not all outreach sites operate daily. Some locations serve only residents of a specific building or community.

1. Open the official outreach calendar.
2. Look for a nearby town or site.
3. Open the listed event for the date, time and access restrictions.
4. Call 815-722-0722 if you need to confirm whether your program can be handled there.

Directions, Parking & Accessibility

Main office: 2455 Glenwood Avenue, Joliet, IL 60435.

The official website does not publish a detailed parking-capacity map or clearly verified public transit instructions for every visitor. Ask about accessible entry, transportation options or another intake arrangement if you need assistance.

Before You Leave Home: Practical Checklist

• Identify whether you need utility, rent, mortgage, weatherization or another type of assistance.
• Confirm the program is accepting applications.
• Check the appropriate income rules and service area.
• Collect photo ID, household documentation and proof of income for the required period.
• Bring relevant bills, leases, notices, statements or ownership records.
• Call ahead if your matter is urgent, requires an appointment or involves special access needs.
• Reach the office before the application cutoff, not just before closing.
• Ask what happens after intake, when additional documents are due and how you will receive a decision.

Related Community Assistance Guides

For readers comparing nonprofit assistance programs, Community Enrichment Center’s food, rent and housing resources explain another agency’s support model in Texas.

The All Peoples Community Center family and housing assistance guide covers benefit navigation and household stability services in Los Angeles.

For employment, family support and food assistance, explore Shepherd Community Center’s Indianapolis resource guide.

Readers researching community action programs can also compare the Como Community Center and Community Action Partners guide, which explains local assistance access in Fort Worth.

These articles cover different organizations and service areas. Their program eligibility does not transfer to Will County.

Official Website & Final Application Contacts

• Official contact, office hours and holiday closures
• Official program and service directory
• LIHEAP eligibility and application requirements
• Rental assistance instructions
• Home weatherization requirements
• Current outreach appointment calendar

Telephone: 815-722-0722
Email: assistance@wcccc.net
Fax: 815-722-6344

Independent information guide. Not affiliated with or operated by Will County Center for Community Concerns. Program eligibility, income limits, service availability and appointment procedures may change.