Legal and Financial Help
Mission: To provide eligible low-income and senior residents of Central and Southern Illinois with high-quality civil legal services in order to obtain and maintain their basic needs
What they offer:
Free civil legal services (non-criminal) for low-income individuals and seniors in ~65 counties throughout Central and Southern Illinois.
Services include housing, family, consumer, benefits, public utilities, and advocacy
Legal Advice & Referral Center: helps people figure out whether they need legal help and connects them to appropriate services.
Works on court cases, but also provides community education and helps clients understand rights and navigate legal procedures.
Mission: Empower Illinois residents with free legal information, tools, and referrals so they can address civil legal issues, especially when they cannot afford a lawyer
What they offer:
Legal information and education about common legal issues (landlord/tenant law, debt, family law, etc.).
Assistance with forms, court procedures, and how to represent oneself in court
Referrals to free or low-cost legal services (if a case requires attorney intervention) in Champaign County.
Champaign County Regional Planning Commission
Mission: RPC describes this service as helping household maintain or gain access to transportation so that lack of mobility does not become a barrier to employment, health care, or housing stability. It’s about promoting self-sufficiency and preventing secondary issues like homelessness due to lack of transit
What they offer:
Assistance with vehicle repairs (minor repairs) when a car is needed for work, health, or other essential uses.
Annual public bus passes for people meeting eligibility (low income, receiving certain benefits, etc.).
Helps preserve transportation independence so individuals aren’t forced to give up jobs or forego medical appointments because they can't get around.
