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STATEIllinoisDes Plaines

Des Plaines Local Assistance Programs

This page lists local organizations in Des Plaines, Illinois that provide legal help, food and social services. Statewide programs are described on the Illinois page.

Legal Aid ChicagoFree civil legal help for Cook County
Websitelegalaidchicago.org
Phone312-341-1070
Address200 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60601

Legal Aid Chicago provides free civil legal services to low income people in Cook County, including Des Plaines residents, with issues such as housing, benefits and family law. All clients must register by phone and pass an eligibility screening.1

Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and DebtFree help with eviction and debt
Websitecookcountylegalaid.org
Phone(855) 956-5763
HoursMonday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt offers free legal help by phone to Cook County residents facing eviction, foreclosure, property tax problems or debt collection, with no income limit. This is a hotline service with no walk-in address listed.2

Food

Self-Help Closet and Pantry of Des PlainesFree food and clothing for Des Plaines residents
Websiteselfhelppantry.org
Phone(847) 375-1443
Address769 Holiday Lane, Des Plaines, IL 60016
HoursTuesday, 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM; Saturday, 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM

The Self-Help Closet and Pantry of Des Plaines is an independent nonprofit that gives free groceries and clothing to Des Plaines residents in a time of need. Clients may visit once a month. New clients must bring a photo ID for each adult, proof of income and proof of address, and must arrive at least one hour before closing.3

Maine Township Food PantryFree food pantry for Maine Township residents
Websitemainetown.com
Phone(847) 297-2510
Address1700 Ballard Road, Park Ridge, IL 60068
HoursTuesday, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM; Wednesday, 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM; Friday, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

The Maine Township Food Pantry has served Township residents since 1981. Most of Des Plaines sits inside Maine Township, and Township residents may use the pantry during its open hours.4

Social services

Maine Township General AssistanceEmergency and general assistance
Websitemainetown.com
Phone(847) 297-2510, ext. 236
Address1700 Ballard Road, Park Ridge, IL 60068
HoursMonday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; call for an appointment

Maine Township General Assistance helps financially distressed Township residents with rent, utilities, personal essentials and clothing, plus Emergency Assistance for a sudden hardship such as an eviction notice or a car repair. Applicants must live inside Maine Township and must call first for an application and an appointment.5

City of Des Plaines Human Services DivisionCrisis help and referrals for Des Plaines residents
Websitedesplainesil.gov
Phone847-391-5480
Address1420 Miner Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016

The City of Des Plaines Human Services Division offers crisis intervention, case management and referrals to local help for Des Plaines residents. Its staff also publish the city Community Resource Guide, a directory of local services. Call the number above for help or a referral.6

Sources & notes
Data and figures on this page come from the sources and notes below:

Footnotes

  1. Legal Aid Chicago, Home page (free civil legal services to people living in poverty in Cook County; Client Screening Unit 312-341-1070). The street address rests on directory listings, not on the org site: TrustAnalytica, Legal Aid Chicago (200 N LaSalle St Ste 1400, Chicago, IL 60601; phone 312-341-1070; location details updated 29 Sep 2026). A second listing gives a different address, 120 S LaSalle St, Suite 900, Chicago, IL 60603: Rush University Medical Center, Legal and Financial Assistance Resources for Autism Caregivers. Call before visiting. ↩

  2. Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt, cookcountylegalaid.org (Early Resolution Program hotline 855-956-5763, Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM; free for all Cook County residents regardless of income, language or immigration status; no walk-in address listed). ↩

  3. Self-Help Closet and Pantry of Des Plaines, Home page (769 Holiday Lane, Des Plaines, IL 60016; client hours Tuesdays 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; phone (847) 375-1443; new clients arrive at least one hour before closing with photo ID, proof of income and proof of address; one visit per month). ↩

  4. Maine Township, Food Pantry (open to residents of Maine Township; Tuesday 10-1, Wednesday 2:30-4:30, Friday 10-1; 1700 Ballard Rd, Park Ridge, IL 60068; phone (847) 297-2510; serving residents since 1981). ↩

  5. Maine Township, General Assistance (General Assistance for financially distressed Township residents, with help for rent, utilities, personal essentials and clothing, plus Emergency Assistance for rent with a five-day notice, car repairs, funeral expenses and disaster relief; call 847-297-2510 x236 for an application and an appointment; 1700 Ballard Rd, Park Ridge, IL 60068). Details are from the Township site as indexed in search; the page did not load in a direct check because the reader hit a rate limit. Office hours Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM come from the Township newsletter: Maine Township, Mainely News, Spring 2026. ↩

  6. City of Des Plaines, Community Resources (Human Services Division, 1420 Miner Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016; phone 847-391-5480; Community Resource Guide prepared through the efforts of City Human Services). The page lists no hours for the Human Services Division; call first. ↩

  1. Elgin Local Assistance Programs, Illinois.
  2. Evanston Local Assistance Programs, Illinois.
  3. Joliet Local Assistance Programs, Illinois.
  4. Naperville Local Assistance Programs, Illinois.
  5. Oak Lawn Local Assistance Programs, Illinois.
  6. Orland Park Local Assistance Programs, Illinois.
  7. Palatine Local Assistance Programs, Illinois.
  8. Peoria Local Assistance Programs, Illinois.
  9. Rockford Local Assistance Programs, Illinois.
  10. Schaumburg Local Assistance Programs, Illinois.

About this information

SingleMotherGuide.com is an independent state-by-state reference guide and is not affiliated with any government agency. Program amounts and income limits are compiled from official federal and state sources, which are cited on the page, and are reviewed periodically and updated as those sources change.

The information is provided for general guidance and is not legal or financial advice. The administering agency makes the final determination of eligibility and benefit amounts. To report an error, please contact us.

Data freshness

Figures on this page are compiled from the public sources cited above and may change; refer to the cited sources for the most current information.

Last updated
Updated by
Ada Hu
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