Open Door Provides Help That’s There When It’s Needed Most
by Candace King
One of the programs operated by the DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform is a crisis intervention program called Open Door, located in the office of the Illinois Department of Human Services office in Villa Park. People who visit the IDHS office in crisis, but whose needs are not met by the resources available at DHS, are referred to Open Door. We assess their needs and then connect them with whatever resources may exist in the community.
One very valuable resource became unavailable for a time earlier this summer. Northern Illinois Food Bank has previously provided us with pre-packed food boxes, small cartons that contain a specific list of nonperishable food that can get a family through a few days while we work out other assistance. For example, the box might contain a box of spaghetti, a jar of spaghetti sauce, a box of macaroni and cheese, a can of tuna, a can of refried beans, a bag of rice, a box of raisin bran, a jar of peanut butter, a jar of jelly, etc. Federation staff have distributed over 400 of these boxes in the past year. It is a very valuable resource, because there are some desperate folks who turn out to be ineligible for anything else, or it can take several days to get even emergency benefits -- but the food boxes are an immediate and tangible way to give them some hope. And supper. Earlier this summer, NIFB lost the funding that permitted them to supply these to us and to other crisis intervention sites.
I don't usually do the client assessments, but the person who normally does was at lunch, so I happened to be the one who gave away our last food box. When I tell you the story of the family you'll understand why I'm determined to find ways to continue this program.
The lady was a 28 year old mother of two children, ages two and three, who recently left her abusive husband. She has a job, and her children attend day care with state subsidy. They had stayed with a series of friends until she was able to find an apartment she could afford in Lombard. During her moves, she missed notices from the IRS that she owed taxes, and they garnished her whole paycheck. She is behind on her rent, and came to the DHS office to see about food stamps. She turned out to be ineligible because, even though the IRS had garnished her check, that income still counted as available to her. She told me that she is not eating much at all, and the only food her children have been getting is the breakfast, lunch and snack at day care. When she said "All the food I have at home is half a gallon of milk", she melted into tears. I said "Hold on, we have one food box left, and it's yours." I also gave her the referral information for the food pantries that serve her area, and a legal referral to try to get the IRS problem straightened out. That food box fed those babies that weekend.
There is a happy ending to this story. NIFB was able to resume providing food boxes. And our partner, Peoples' Resource Center, filled in the gaps with a special delivery of fifty custom boxes! Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry has also offered to help. And DuPage County Community Services Department has found some funding for some more food boxes. (The food at NIFB is donated, but there are some very low costs associated with delivering the boxes.) So now, we're back to giving out several boxes every day.
By the way, Open Door is always happy to accept donated gift cards, to help families purchase milk, bread and fresh produce. And this time of year, clean, gently used coats, blankets, hats and gloves for men, women and children are much appreciated.
For more information, contact Tearalla Herbert at 630-530-8255.
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