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LBJ declares War on Poverty; signs “Economic Opportunity Act” of 1964, authorizing the creation of Community Action Agencies; Shriver serves as first director of Office of Economic Opportunity

Illinois State minimum wage: $2.30

WCCCC incorporates

Move to Fountaindale Library in Romeoville

Big Brothers/Big Sisters contract to provide tutoring to youth

Partners with Catholic Charities on PADS

Housing/Financial Counseling

Move to 1 Doris Ave. in Joliet

3rd Board of Directors Chairperson Frank Fleischer (1998-2008)

10th Anniversary

3rd Executive Director Donna Jacobs (1996-2000)

Illinois State minimum wage: $4.25

Illinois State minimum wage: $3.80

Gang Intervention/Prevention Program

Member: Illinois Ventures for Community Action

2nd Board of Director Chairperson Duane Krieger (1993-1997)

WCCCC becomes HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency

Expanded to 215 Ottawa St.

CDBG Rehab Program

LIHEAP Program

Illinois State minimum wage: $5.15

Move to 304 N. Scott Street

World Trade Center attack; War on Terrorism declared

Kris White named new Executive Director (2001-Present)

Illinois State minimum wage: $6.50

Hurricane Katrina batters New Orleans

Emergency Needs Program developed

Financial Literacy Program funded through Sargent Shriver Center on Poverty Law

Hurricane Katrina Relief

Population of United States reaches 300 million people

Ridgewood Rehab Project in partnership with Will County Government

First Homebuyers Program

Website debuts

Repair Program developed

NYSE Black Monday crash

WCCCC opens doors at 225 N. Chicago St.

WCCCC administers CSBG and Weatherization programs

Job Training Partnership Act: “Project Self-Sufficiency”

Fire destroys building December 4, 1987

99 WCCCC assumes administration of Will County Continuum of Care

89Operation Bootstraps helps residents obtain Section 8 voucher

2nd Executive Director Richard Huyser (1989-1996)

0720th Anniversary Open House

IHDA Home Modification Grant

HUD Lead Hazard Reduction Grant

ComEd Hardship Program developed in partnership with Commonwealth Edison

08Emergency Economic Stabilization Act passed

Continuum of Care offers Homeless Services

Citizen’s Energy CFL Bulb Program

Team Firestoppers with American Red Cross

09Illinois State minimum wage: $7.75

Economic recession; unemployment rate over 10%

U.S. foreclosures: 1 in every 466 U.S. home sent foreclosure documents

Illinois Disaster Assistance Program

ARRA funds expand CSBG and Weatherization services

Neighborhood Stabilization Program

09Homeless Prevention/Rapid Rehousing Program

Present Board of Directors Chairperson David Sullivan (2009-present)

12Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program developed in partnership with IRS

IHDA Foreclosure Prevention Program

11Illinois State minimum wage: $8.25

HUD Mortgage Modification/Mortgage Scam Assistance Program

IHDA Hardest Hit Fund Program

Emergency Food & Shelter Program

Citgo CFL Program

“Healthy Homes/Healthy Families” Expo

Agency named “Social Service Agency of the Year” by Joliet Regional Chamber of Commerce

Illinois unemployment rate at 11.3%

Healthcare legislation passed

IHDA Anti-Predatory Lending Program

HUD Lead Based Paint Grant

101st Executive Director Marianne Kozlik (1986-1989)

First Board of Directors Chairperson John Annerino (1986-1992)

Annual Report 2011

1980s1960s 1990s 2000... 2000...

Will County Center of Community Concerns is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization as determined by the IRS. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Contact UsDear Friends,

This year Will County Center for Community Concerns (WCCCC) is celebrating our 25th year of service to our community. We incorporated in 1986, and began providing services to the low-income residents of Will County early in 1987. As I look back over the last 25 years I am very proud of how WCCCC has constantly evolved to meet the needs of our community. When we began seeing customers in 1987 our main services were the Community Services Block Grant programs and Weatherization. We began providing utility assistance through the LIHEAP program in 1991, and became a HUD-approved Housing Counseling Agency in 1993. One area of great need for our Will County families is stable housing. WCCCC has sought out resources and forged the partnerships necessary to rehabilitate homes that have fallen into disrepair, improve the energy efficiency and comfort of residences, and modify dwellings to make them safe and accessible for seniors or persons with disabilities.

The economic crisis of the past several years has resulted in households seeking assistance for the first time; many of them were in danger of losing their homes through foreclosure. We now have a staff of five housing counselors who work closely with those families to stabilize their housing situation. I want to acknowledge and thank our wonderful Board of Directors and the dedicated staff who are committed to our agency and its mission. I also want to express my gratitude to the donors, volunteer, and community partners who have made WCCCC’s first 25 years so successful!

Kris White, Executive Director

304 N. Scott StreetJoliet, IL 60432815.722.0722Fax 815.722.6344

www.wcccc.netcontactus@wcccc.net

Kris White, Executive Director

Office Hours

Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Applications Taken

Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Board of Directors

David Sullivan, Chairman

Linda Pote, Vice-Chair

Veronica Bollero, Secretary

Elizabeth Franklin, Treasurer

Ron Alberico

Jackie Barnes

Michele Batara

Roger Claar

Lloyd Collins

Katrina Deutsche

Ryan Eggert

Frank Fleischer

Ruth Newell

Jack Tezak

A.J. Wilhelmi

In 1997, the first year I served on the Board of Directors, Will County Center for Community

Concerns (WCCCC) served 2,697 households. At that time the unemployment rate in Will County was 4.7%. Last year the unemployment rate in Will County was 10.1%, and WCCCC provided 14,809 services to our community, expending more than $8 million dollars in assistance.

Those numbers clearly demonstrate how much WCCCC has grown over the last 25 years, and are an indication of how integral our agency is to the Will County community. The people we serve, many of whom are on fixed incomes or are experiencing unemployment, need help meeting the day to day expenses of housing, fuel, and health care. Those numbers tell me that when our residents need help, WCCCC responds.

Our agency’s growth and success are due to the dedication of Executive Director Kris White, the Board of Directors, and our staff. Under Kris’ direction, WCCCC has developed excellent relationships with our elected officials, business partners, neighborhood associations and donors. I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors with such a dedicated group of board members, and I look forward to many more years of service as WCCCC continues to improve and grow.

David L. Sullivan, Sr., Board Chairman

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

- Mother Teresa

From the Board Chairman

From the Executive Director

2011 DONORSCompanies

Adler RoofingA-1 ConstructionARC InsulationArcos Environmental ServicesB.B. ConstructionBank FinancialBerlinsky Scrap Corp.Bob Martin Auto SalesCare-N-ComfortCaring Hands by KrisChurch of St. AnthonyCITGO Petroleum CorpCPX SportsDNR ConstructionDomino’s PizzaDuke’s Ace HardwareE’s ConstructionElite Children’s Academy First AlertFirst Midwest BankFleckenstein’s BakeryFood 4 LessHammel Law OfficesHome DepotHomecut DonutsImmaculate Conception ChurchJoliet Elks Lodge 296Joliet Jewish Welfare ChestKinzler’s Janitorial ServiceLen Cox and Sons ExcavatingMichael’s PizzaMilano BakeryMobile Home StuffNorthern Illinois Steel

Ornelas Construction Co.Parliament ConstructionPlasti-Pak Priority StaffingPro-Town Properties Provena St. Joseph Medical CenterRathbun, Cservenyak & KozolReich, Jumbeck & Assoc.Rockdale Automotive Inc.Sam’s ClubShure Tech BrandsThe Voyager GroupThree Rivers Assoc. of RealtorsTurk FurnitureUltra Foods Joliet

Foundations/ Civic Groups Aileen S. Andrew FoundationCaterpillar FoundationD’Arcy Buick/GMCD’Arcy Volkswagon/HyundaiDr. Scholl FoundationEcolab. Inc.First Midwest BankFull Circle FoundationGrainger FoundationJoliet Junior Women’s FoundationMB Financial BankOld Plank Trail Community BankOzinga Brothers, Inc.St. Margaret Mary ChurchWeist Foundation

Individuals Rev & Mrs. James AllenRita BradleyPaul BoettoLloyd & Nadine CollinsLea DrellRoy & Christine Duchene Jr.Frank & Laurie FleischerNancy & Fabio FranchiMike HennessyJim HoganEd & Sheryl JaquaysScott & Kim LibersherEd MastersKaren SorberoGeorge StuhrA.J. WilhelmiJim & Rita Zelko Municipalities Channahon TownshipDupage TownshipHomer TownshipJackson TownshipLockport TownshipManhattan TownshipMonee TownshipPeotone TownshipTroy TownshipWill TownshipCity of Crest HillVillage of CreteVillage of GodleyVillage of Rockdale

T he Community Services Block Grant gives Will County Center for Community

Concerns the capacity and flexibility to develop programs and services specific to our community. Every customer who comes to WCCCC seeking assistance is asked to complete a survey indicating the type of help they need. The results of those surveys are used to determine the types of programs offered by WCCCC. Today, CSBG funds enable us to administer programs such as:

• Emergency Assistance (helps with overdue water bills and rent payment)

• Prescription Assistance

• Mortgage Assistance

• Property Tax Assistance

• Employment Support (for individuals who are working but may need child care, car repair, clothing or other items to help them maintain employment)

• Family and Community Development Program (customers enrolled in FCD work with a counselor to set and achieve goals in areas such as employment, education, etc.)

• Scholarships (up to $1,000 toward tuition, books and supplies)

• Your Money and Your Life class (teaches money management, budgeting, etc.)

Community Services Block Grant Programs

CSBG ProGraM HouSeHoldS Served CoSt

Jump on the Bus 20 $3,000.00

Certified Renters/Fair Housing 153 N/A

Emergency Assistance 249 $96,355.54

Employment Support 7 $5,137.48

Family and Community Development 7 $1,633.00

Financial Literacy 11 $550.00

Holiday Food Baskets 125 $10,001.54

Homeless Case Management 5 $1,468.76

Mortgage Assistance 12 $8,164.84

Information and Referral 2,084 N/A

Learning Program 20 $1,000.00

Prescription Drug Assistance 21 $1,232.63

Scholarship Program 5 $4,961.40

total 2,719 $133,505.19

“And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time.”- Libba Bray

CSBG Programs

WCCCC became the administering agency of the Low

Income Home Energy Assistance Program in 1991. The LIHEAP Program has helped many households in Will County and around the country that cannot afford to stay current with their electric or gas bills and may eventually have their services shut off. Last year LIHEAP applicants were able to choose between the traditional LIHEAP benefit, which provides a one-time payment directly to their utility vendor, or the PIPP (Percentage of Income Payment Plan). The PIPP component is intended to make monthly payments more affordable on a year round basis. If customers pay the monthly PIPP payment on-time and in full, some of their old debt and the remainder of that month’s bill will be forgiven, breaking the cycle of disconnections and reconnections. 2011 Numbers

• 9,114 households

• Furnaces replaced: 18; Total cost: $44,837.00

• Reconnect Assistance: 1,058 households; Total cost: $529,416.00

Again last year LIHEAP-eligible households were given energy efficient light bulbs to further reduce energy consumption in their homes. Through the generosity of CITGO Petroleum Corporation, 24,000 compact fluorescent bulbs were distributed to our customers on a first come/first served basis. The 10-packs of bulbs were also available to Will County residents who attended our first annual “Healthy Homes/Healthy Families” expo in October 2011.

“Give light and people will find the way.” - Ella Baker

Low-Income Home EnergyAssistance Program (LIHEAP)

emergency Food and Shelter Program

2011 was the first year that WCCCC administered the

utility assistance component of the United Way of Will County’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program. The EF & S Program served households with an income level slightly higher than the LIHEAP program, providing one-time payments to their electric, gas and/or water companies.

Through the Emergency Food & Shelter Program, WCCCC served 374 households, expending $72,875.41 in payments. This program was administered between August and October of 2011 at a time when LIHEAP funds were not available.

Comed Special Hardship ProgramWCCCC began administering the ComEd Special Hardship program in 2007. Funding is provided by Commonwealth Edison to assist their customers who have experienced a financial hardship that has caused them to fall behind on their utility bill.

WCCCC qualifies each household using ComEd’s eligibility criteria and income guidelines. The household must demonstrate a hardship such as medical, military, senior, disability, loss of employment or income, family crisis, property damage or be a victim of a crime.

In 2011, 595 families struggling to keep up with their electric bill received $186,577.43 in financial assistance.

Utility Assistance Programs

The Home Repair Program was developed by WCCCC in 2002 to provide assistance

to homeowners who were not income eligible for other grant-funded programs, or who needed more assistance than could be provided by our other housing assistance programs.

Often when homeowners are struggling financially they do not keep up on simple home repairs. It is estimated that approximately 95% of low-income homeowners are unable to adequately repair or maintain their homes, and over time that can lead to unsafe housing conditions, code violations, and eventually eviction.

The Home Repair Program is designed to improve substandard housing conditions and correct code violations so that homeowners can remain safely in their homes and avoid

the threat of homelessness. Possible repairs include window replacements, roof repair or replacement, furnace replacements, gutter repair, replacement of gas shut-off valves and gas pipes, exhaust fan repairs, and more.

Funding for the Home Repair Program comes through the generous support of foundations, civic groups, and individuals.

2011 Numbers:

• 26 dwellings repaired

• Total cost: $30,802.91

In 2008, in partnership with the Will County Community

Development Division and the Will County Health Department, WCCCC began administering the HUD-funded Lead Hazard Reduction Program to address identified lead hazards in residential buildings in Will County.

Exposure to lead in the home poses serious health risks, especially for very young children. Deteriorating paint, household dust, drinking water and contaminated soil around the foundation are common sources of exposure. The Lead Hazard Reduction Program enabled Will County residents with children under the age of six to have their home assessed for lead contamination and appropriate measures taken to reduce any identified lead hazards.

To date more than 290 homes have been improved through the Lead Hazard Reduction Program offered by WCCCC. A registry of lead-free homes can be viewed on our web site (www.wcccc.net/lsrh.asp)

2011 Numbers

• 91 households served

• Total cost: $899,231.15

Lead Hazard Reduction Program

Before

After“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others

have thrown at him.”- David Brinkley

Home Repair Program

T he Weatherization Program has been one of WCCCC’s core programs since

the beginning. Homeowners and renters who receive weatherization services see an immediate reduction in their heating and cooling costs, and an increased comfort level in their homes.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, the Weatherization program saw a dramatic increase in funding, allowing WCCCC to serve more households at a slightly higher income level. The Weatherization Program now provides for the replacement of old refrigerators or freezers with energy-efficient models.

WCCCC’s Weatherization program provides:

• Heating system: furnace will be tested and repaired or replaced if necessary

• Insulation of exterior walls and attic areas

• Weather-stripping of doors, or replacement if needed

• Caulking of windows; repair or replace if needed

• Sealing of other bypasses that allow heated or cooled air to escape from the home

• Other energy conservation measures as funding allows, such as replacement of old refrigerators with new energy efficient models

2011 Numbers

• 368 homes weatherized

• Total cost: $1,499,864.52

“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”- Milton Berle

Weatherization

T he Neighborhood Stabilization Program began in 2009 in partnership with

Will County Community Development Division. The purpose of the program is to purchase and redevelop blighted, foreclosed, or abandoned residential properties, thereby improving overall home values in the targeted neighborhood. After rehab work is done, the properties are sold to eligible homebuyers and the proceeds of each sale are reinvested in the program.

WCCCC assesses the homes to determine what measures need to be applied prior to turning the property over to the homeowner. All of the rehab work is completed by a certified contractor, and may include repairs to roofs, windows, electrical and plumbing. The home may need new siding, interior paint, new cabinetry, flooring, and appliances.

Potential buyers are required to attend an eight-hour homebuyer’s education class to better prepare them to become homeowners. Our HUD-Certified counselors teach the class, ensuring that new homeowners are educated on all aspects of the home buying process, including money management, credit repair, loan pre-approval, insurance, and what to expect at the closing.

2011 Numbers

• 14 homes purchased and assigned to contractors for rehab

• Total cost: $409,872.32

Neighborhood Stabilization Program

The Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) has

been administered by WCCCC since 2009 with funding made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The program provides financial assistance and services to either prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless or to help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized. The program provides assistance to help families and individuals for up to 18 months or until they were able to maintain their households independently. HPRP customers also were encouraged to take advantage of other resources and programs provided by our agency to help them regain self-sufficiency.

Each individual or family meets with their case manager to determine the best course of action stabilize their housing situation.

The HPRP program assisted its participants with housing search and placement, rental assistance, security/utility deposits, and payments toward utility bills.

2011 Numbers:

• 470 households served

• $475,669.57

“Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do...but how much love we put in that action.” - Mother Teresa

Homeless Services Program

WCCCC developed the Homeless Services Program in 2008 to fill gaps in services for Will County’s homeless population. While there are other

agencies in the Will County area that help the homeless population regain self-sufficiency, there were some services that those agencies were not able to provide.

Services provided under the Homeless Services Program include case management, bus passes, clothing, prescription assistance, gas cards, food vouchers, employment training, education related fees, and birth certificate, drivers license, and ID card fees.

2011 Numbers:

• 756 individuals served

• $34,714.98

Will County Continuum of CareThe Will County Center for Community Concerns is the administrating agency for the Will County Continuum of Care, providing administrative support for its committees and functions. The Continuum of Care is comprised of over 200 members from more than 75 agencies within Will County.

The Continuum of Care links public, private and non-profit sectors in partnership. The Continuum membership is composed of government entities, elected officials, non-profit agencies, businesses, housing developers, financial institutions, churches, health care providers, neighborhood associations, and homeless and formerly homeless persons.

Will County Center for Community Concerns also administers the Homeless Management Information System database that allows its users to maintain current data on the local homeless population, thereby streamlining the service delivery system and avoiding duplication of services.

As a Continuum member agency, WCCCC took the lead in the development of “willfindhousing.org,” a web based database of affordable housing in Will County.

Homelessness Services Program

Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program

S ince 2002 WCCCC has been providing low income households with children

aged 16 or younger with a holiday food basket. In the early years of this program we did receive financial support from a local foundation, but in recent years we have relied on community donations to support this program.

In addition to a generously filled box of nutritious food, each child in the household receives warm hat & mittens, and an age-appropriate toy.

For the last two years, we have benefited from the generous support of the Will County government employees. In 2010 and again in 2011 they have held a hat & mitten drive to ensure that we have plenty of these winter essentials to distribute to our families.

Families are invited to visit with Santa and enjoy an evening of holiday cheer. While families wait to talk to Santa they are treated to refreshments provided by Fleckenstein’s Bakery in Mokena, Homecut Donuts and Milano Bakery, both located in Joliet.

This annual event has become a favorite for our staff and volunteers who look forward to sharing holiday cheer with our customers and their children.

2011 Numbers

• 125 families served, including 291 children

• $10,001.54 used to purchase food, toys, and winter mittens and hats.

 

Holiday Food Baskets

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”- Robert Louis Stevenson

Will County Center for Community Concerns became a HUD - approved

Housing Counseling Agency in 1993 and currently has five HUD-certified housing counselors on staff. In recent years we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of homeowners who require counseling to avoid losing their home to foreclosure.

WCCCC is able to provide no-cost counseling through the HUD Housing Counseling Grant and the HUD Mortgage Modification and Mortgage Scam Assistance Grant. Through the Illinois Housing Development Authority, WCCCC has received grant awards from the Anti-Predatory Lending Program, the Hardest Hit Fund Program, and the Foreclosure Prevention Program.

WCCCC’s housing counselors meet by appointment with individuals and families to determine the best course of action and means of assistance for their circumstance. Households who are considering purchasing a home may opt to participate in a class offered in a group setting.

Topics covered in our Housing Counseling Programs include budgeting, property maintenance, landlord/tenant relations, mortgage default/delinquency, eviction, foreclosure and loss mitigation, certified renters counseling, and pre- and post-purchase/homebuyer counseling.

2011 NumbersBetween January 1 and December 31, 2011, a total of 471 households received the following no-cost services;

• Loss Mitigation Counseling: 242

• Pre-Purchase Counseling: 12

• Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (reverse mortgage) Counseling: 43

• Homebuyers Education Class: 21

• Fair Housing Workshop: 153

“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”- Confucius

Housing Counseling Program

Incorporated in 1986, the Will County Center for Community Concerns’ mission

is to assist and enable low-income individuals and households to obtain the opportunities needed to prepare them for self-sufficiency. Will County Center for Community Concerns (WCCCC) directly addresses the needs of our community that, when left unmet, can lead to homelessness. The programs and services we provide are designed to address immediate needs and help the low-income population we serve regain and maintain stability.

Throughout WCCCC’s 25 year history, we have served well over 20,000 households. When we opened our doors in 1987, we offered programs through the Community Service Block Grant, administered the Weatherization Program, and offered a job training program called “Project Self-Sufficiency.”

Today we offer a much wider menu of programs. In addition to our core programs (CSBG, LIHEAP and Weatherization, we administer the ComEd Special Hardship Program and the Emergency Food & Shelter Grant to help offset the rising costs of utility bills. Housing programs include the Home Repair Program, the Lead Hazard Reduction Program, and the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. The needs of the homeless/at risk populations are addressed through our Homeless Services programs, including the Homeless Prevention/Rapid Rehousing Program.

As the designated Community Action Agency for Will County, Will County Center for Community Concerns is constantly assessing the needs of our community and developing programs to improve the lives of our customers. 

Looking Back on Years of Service

Celebrating 25 Years

Financial SummaryStatement of Activities For the Year Ended December 31, 2011

Unrestricted Revenues and Reclassifications

Federal Grant Revenue $8,477,147

State Grant Revenue $856,122

Other Grant Revenue $83,320

Interest and Dividend Income $6,224

Donations $11,670

Other Income $663

total unrestricted revenues $9,435,147

Program Services $8,828,938

Management and General $604,608

Total Expenses $9,433,546

Increase in Unrestricted Net Assets $1,601

Net assets: Beginning of Year $459,717

Net assets: end of Year $461,318

uNreStrICted Net aSSetS

exPeNSeS