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It is a sad truth that most of us will know extremehardship at some point in our lives. At such a time, it isimportant to know that we have people in our corner that wecan count on should a need arise. Unfortunately, with moreand more families ending in broken homes and with thedisconnected and isolated nature of our world, such help isnot always easy to find.

Much as has been the case with Hurricane Katrina, in timesof distress and emergency it is good to know that thegovernment is there to help. After all, we have paid taxesin all our lives so it is acceptable to turn around andneed some social services once in awhile. However, somestates and local governments are more helpful to itscitizens than others.

Illinois is one of the greatest states to live in becauseof its commitment to the well-being of its citizens. Intimes of need, social support and services are available tohelp in the state of Illinois. While there is not time tolist all of the options available to citizens, here a fewof the great ones to keep in mind.

Since winters are usually very harsh in the Midwest oftenthe heating bills can get out of control for Illinoisresidents. So the Illinois Home Weatherization AssistanceProgram (IHWAP) comes to their rescue to design homes forthe cold and cruel winters and help them become more energyefficient thereby reducing the heating costs.

IHWAP helps low income families survive the harsh Midwestwinters by getting replacement windows and weatherizing yourhome against the vagaries of nature. It goes to the extentof arranging licensed contractors to come to your home andmaintain your heating and air conditioning systems.

For people who are down on their luck and barely scrapingby, health care costs can be cause for major concern. Thisis especially the case for single parents who cannot affordthe health care services that their children need.Fortunately, the state of Illinois provides much neededassistance to people with children in need of medical care.

Kid Care is the Illinois state program that offers healthcare coverage for children living in low income families.The service also provides pregnant mothers with theresources they need to obtain proper neonatal care. Plus,for parents who have insurance through their employer or aprivate insurance company, the state of Illinois will paythose premiums in certain circumstances.

The state of Illinois has a number of other great programsmeant to enrich and improve the quality of life of itsresidents. Whether you are in need of help in paying ahigh utility bill or seek treatment for a chemical orsubstance abuse addiction, the state of Illinois hasprograms to help you get back on your feet. While none ofus prepare or plan for hardship, the truth is that itsometimes finds us and by the kind graces of states likeIllinois, we are able to persevere in such trying times.