CWFs Help Get Chicagoans on Their Feet

LISC/Chicago’s network of Centers for Working Families (CWF) is serving more people than ever before as demand increases in response to a turbulent economy. With new resources including access to credit scores and tuition reimbursement for skills training, the CWFs are able to lend a hand to any client who comes through their doors.

One of those clients is Luis Badillo, who was laid off from the company where he had worked for over 15 years. Mr. Badillo applied for unemployment benefits, but was told he lacked sufficient proof of legal residence. At the CWF at Instituto del Progreso Latino, an income support specialist worked with Mr. Badillo to navigate the documentation process and get the proof he needed.

The Centers for Working Families served 14,660 people in 2009.

With unemployment benefits coming in, Mr. Badillo took advantage of the CWF’s career coaching and planning services. He enrolled in Instituto’s Industrial Maintenance training program and received his certification.

Instituto provided transportation assistance to help him get to interviews, and Mr. Badillo found permanent employment as a technical electrician at a graphic design company. He’s now earning $25 an hour. Mr. Badillo’s relationship with Instituto continues today, as he works with the CWF financial coach to plan his financial future.

With the support of Instituto del Progreso Latino, Mr. Badillo has been able to put his life and finances back on track. And he’s not the only one. In the first 10 months of 2009, the CWF network served 14,660 people – 50 percent more than the same period in 2008.

Just over 1,000 CWF clients received more than $1.2 million in public benefits in 2009, and tax assistance at CWF locations helped nearly 7,000 people get more than $8 million in refunds. The CWFs stand ready to continue assisting individuals like Mr. Badillo as they work through the tough economic times toward a more
secure future.

This story first appeared in the Winter 2010 edition of Working Capital, the newsletter of the LISC/Chicago. To see this issue and back issues, please click here.