Emergency

Emergency Needs/Crisis

Do you need emergency help? If you are having a medical emergency, call 911.
For other emergencies, use the info on this page to help you get the help you need.

Housing

Shelters and
homeless support

Food

Soup kitchens and
food pantries

Personal

Local support for personal
or family crisis

Phone/Online

Hotlines and online
crisis support

Emergency Housing/Homeless

Prairieland United Way Helpline

Type of service: Emergency response
What they do: Direct people in emergency situations to appropriate serving agencies
Who is eligible? Cass, Greene, Morgan and Scott county residents
Referral needed? Not needed
Best way to access services: 217-479-1818

Website: https://www.prairielandunitedway.org/

New Directions Warming and Cooling Center

Type of service: Emergency housing
What they do: Emergency shelter, life skills training, case management
Who is eligible? Must be over 18, or accompanied by an adult. Must be able to pass a background check.
Referral needed? Not needed, but they do accept referrals.
Best way to access services: Call 217-271-1014.

Address: 100 S. Fayette St., Jacksonville
Hours of operation: Intakes are only conducted from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
Phone number: 217-271-1014

*OPERATIONS DURING COVID-19*
Currently closed until further notice. We are responding to needs as best as we can. Most inquiries for service will be referred to other social service agencies as needed.

Salvation Army

Type of service: Emergency Food, Clothing, and Utilities
What they do: Provide lunch daily, food distribution weekly, referrals for emergency food, vouchers for clothing, emergency assistance with water, power, and rent, prescriptions, non-narcotics, antibiotics, and glasses.
Who is eligible? Lunch is open to everyone, Friday food distribution is open to everyone. Call to apply for other assistance.
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Call or walk in

Address: 331 W. Douglas Ave., Jacksonville
Hours of operation: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
"Lunch in the Son" - Monday - Friday 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday food distribution - 1:15 pm - 3:15 pm
Friday food distribution - 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm
Phone number: 217-245-7124

Website: http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/jacksonville
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSAjacksonvilleIL

Crisis Center Foundation

Type of service: Domestic violence support
What they do: Immediate crisis intervention, safety planning, shelter, legal advocacy, assistance, referrals, teen and child advocate
Who is eligible? Survivor, witness, or child/dependent affected by domestic violence
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Call from a safe phone number

Address: 325 9th Ave., Jacksonville
Hours of operation: 24 hours/365 days a year
Phone number: 217-243-4357

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crisiscenterfoundation/

District 117 Homeless Liaison

Type of service: Supportive services
What they do: Program assists with educational needs for youth facing emergency changes in living situations. Can assist with supplies, some transportation, and helping you overcome things that might keep you from school.
Who is eligible? Current students of District 117.
Referral needed? Referral through school is preferred but not required.
Best way to access services: Talk to school counselor or can call Kelly Zoellner directly.

Address: 516 Jordan, Jacksonville
Hours of operation: 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Phone number: 217-243-9411 ext 1119
contact person: Kelly Zoellner
email: kzoellner@jsd117.org

Midwest Youth Services

Type of service: Homeless/Runaway Youth
What they do: Crisis intervention with Lockout
Who is eligible? Free and available to individuals and families between 11 and 24 years old.
Referral needed? No.
Best way to access services: Call office

Homeless Youth Walk in Hours daily: 9:00 am - 11:00 am Monday - Friday

Address: 2001 W. Lafayette, Jacksonville
Hours of operation: 24 hours on call
Homeless Youth Walk in Hours Monday - Friday - 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Phone number: 217-245-6000

Website: http://mys-kids.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MidwestYouthServices/

Phoenix Center

Type of Service: Transitional Housing
What they do: case management, linkage to care, referrals, clothes, food, etc.
Who is eligible? Billy’s House – HIV+ homeless men and women (18+) and PC3 Individuals who identify as LGBT and homeless ((18+)
Best way to access services: Contact Dean – housing manager dm.phoenix@comcast.net or 217-528-5253

Address: 109 E Lawrence Ave., Sprngfield, IL
Phone Number: 217-528-5253
Website: https://www.phoenixcenterspringfield.org/contact-phoenix-center/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Phoenix-Center-129548107058357

Emergency Food

Jacksonville Food Center

Type of service: Food Center
What they do: Provide emergency food every 60 days, and bakery/produce every week
Who is eligible? Emergency food provided based on family size and income, once every 60 days. Bakery/produce open to all Mordan County residents.
Referral needed? Referral required from one of the following: Salvation Army, The Laborers' Home, MCS Services, Public Aid, Prairie Council on Aging, Memorial Behavioral Health, JACIL, Volunteers of America, Women's Crisis Center.
Best way to access services: For produce/bakery, walk in. For emergency food box, must have a referral.

Brown Bag Lunches: Saturday and Sunday - 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm at Congressional United Church of Christ in Jacksonville. Open to anyone.

Address: 316 E. State St., Jacksonville
Hours of operation: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Phone number: Call 217-243-1122

Website: http://jaxfoodcenter.org/

HELPS Ministry Outreach

Type of service: Emergency Food
What they do: Provide assistance with food, furniture, baby needs, household needs, and crisis. Can make referrals.
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Call or walk in

Address: 723 N Prairie, Jacksonville
Hours of operation: 1:00 pm - 9:00 pm, 7 days a week.
Phone number: 217-245-7559 or 217-719-9584
Contact person: Kathleen Finkle

Personal Crisis

For a mental health emergency such as threats of suicide or homicide, please contact the police (911) or go to the Passavant Hospital Emergency Room (1600 W. Walnut St, Jacksonville). These places can connect you to emergency mental health services.

Midwest Youth Services

Type of service: Homeless/Runaway Youth
What they do: Free and confidential crisis intervention with youth and families for lockout or refusal to return home
Who is eligible? Free and available to families with youth between 11 and 17 years old.
Referral needed? No.
Best way to access services: Call office

Address: 2001 W. Lafayette, Jacksonville
Hours of operation: 24 hours on call
Phone number: 217-245-6000

Website: http://mys-kids.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MidwestYouthServices/

Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault

Type of service: Rape/Sexual Assault crisis intervention
What they do: Provide free and confidential emergency telephone and in house counseling/support, legal and medical advocacy, community outreach and education to survivors of sexual assault,
Who is eligible? Anyone
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Call 217-753-8081 from a safe phone number

Address: 2001 W. Lafayette, Jacksonville
Crisis phone number: 217-753-8081
Non-crisis phone: 217-243-7330

Website: http://prairiecasa.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Prairie-Center-Against-Sexual-Assault-154431171261819/

Hotlines and Online Crisis Support

CARES Line (hotline for parents of children experiencing mental health crisis)
1-800-345-9049

DCFS Child Abuse Hotline
800-252-2873

National Runaway Safeline
1-800-RUNAWAY or text 66008
https://www.1800runaway.org/

Suicide Prevention Hotline
1-800-273-8255
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ (Website has chat)

Children of the Night (children involved in prostitution/trafficking)
1-800-551-1300
https://www.childrenofthenight.org/

The Trevor Project
866-488-7386
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/ (Website has chat and text info)