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

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: 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
Phone number: 217-271-1014

Salvation Army

Type of service: Emergency Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Utilities
What they do: Provide lunch daily, food distribution weekly, referrals for emergency food, provide crisis shelter, vouchers for clothing, emergency assistance with water, power, and rent
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 8:00 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 afternoon food distribution
Friday morning food distribution
Phone number: 217-245-7124

Website: http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/jacksonville

Crisis Center Foundation

Type of service: Domestic violence support
What they do: Immediate crisis intervention, safety planning, shelter, legal advocacy, assistance, referrals
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
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 Sarah Raynor 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: Sarah Raynor
email: sraynor@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 9 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

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/

Phoenix Center

Type of service: Emergency housing
What they do: transitional housing
Who is eligible? Over 18 years old and HIV+
Best way to access services: Call

Address: 109 E. Lawrence Ave., Springfield
Phone number: 217-528-5253

Website: http://www.phoenixcenterspringfield.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Phoenix-Center-129548107058357/

Emergency Food

Community Childcare and Service Center

Type of service: Food Pantry
What they do: Provide food
Who is eligible? Anyone - open to all
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Walk in on Wednesdays 10-11 a.m. or call for an appointment.

Address: 710 N. Clay St.
Hours of operation: Wednesdays 10 - 11 a.m.
Phone number: 217-245-4240

Jacksonville Food Center

Type of service: Food Pantry
What they do: Provide emergency food every 6 months, and bakery or produce every week
Who is eligible? Emergency food provided based on family size and income, once every 6 months. Bakery or produce open to all.
Referral needed? Referral required from one of the following: Salvation Army, The Laborers' Home, MCS Services, Memorial Behavioral Health, DCFS, JCIL, Red Cross, Volunteers of America, Women's Crisis Center, many churches
Best way to access services: For produce or bakery, walk in. For emergency food box, get a referral.

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: Assist people with emergency food and financial needs, make referrals
Referral needed? No
Best way to access services: Call or walk in

Address: 238 West State St, Jacksonville
Phone number: 217-291-0911
Contact person: Kathleen Finkle

Website: http://www.helpsministryoutreach.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helpsoutreach/

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 9 and 18 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 counseling/support 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)