Dove Financial Assistance
What is Dove Financial Assistance?
DFA is a joint effort of area religious organizations to give monetary support to persons who have emergency financial needs. DFA provides a systematic way to verify needs and provides a central location for persons seeking emergency financial assistance for water, power, eye prescription, dental through MCHD and some prescription meds.
DFA also works with Energy Assistance Foundation’s to distribute the funding through the "Warm Neighbors, Cool Friends Program," which assists persons with payment of their summer and winter power bills, in Macon, DeWitt and Piatt Counties.
Thousands of families in have been helped through this program since 1984.
Filling out an application is the first step. The Coordinator will let those who cannot be helped know immediately at the appointment time or via a letter should it take longer to determine. Checks to vendors or landlords will be issued when a request is approved. The Coordinator also works with other service providers, making referrals and sharing other agency services with applicants.
A few guidelines to remember:
- DFA can only grant up to $300 per application for the following: water, power, eye prescription, dental through MCHD and some prescription meds.
- A person can be helped more than once. However, 365 days must pass before he or she may be granted assistance again.
- This program relies on donations from religious organizations and individuals. When funds are depleted, no applications can be filled until money is available again.
- DFA can also receive requests for assistance through: email: DFA@doveinc.org phone: 217.619.9108
- Potential clients can fill out application, scan their bills, ID's and receipts and share via email. Responses will be sent via email or by phone. Responses could take up to 36 business hours for items to be reviewed. Checks or vouchers will continue to be sent directly to vender.
Announcing City of Decatur
CDBG -Covid 19 funding
"Rent, Mortgage, and Utility Assistance for Decatur residents Finally, the Council approved another round of rent, mortgage, and utility assistance to be distributed to Decatur residents. The $250,000 of assistance comes from Community Development Block Grants for COVID-19 related expenditures. As in the past, the City is partnering with Dove, Inc. to help manage the distribution. Dove has indicated that a spike in COVID cases has renewed the need for this type of assistance for our community. This newest round of assistance brings the total to over $1 million of assistance the City has provided to residents through Dove." from the February 21, 2023 release
For information about this assistance, please check the Median Family Income Guide, the Quick Check list (below), and if you meet these requirements, please proceed with an Application.
Most recent tax return documents needed are from either 2021 or 2022.
Covid Pre-Checklist
⃝ Do you live in the city of Decatur?
⃝ Has your income been affected by Covid? This could include any of the following options:
• You missed work because you or someone in your household had Covid
• You were in quarantine due to Covid and had to miss work
• Your place of employment closed due to Covid
• Your daycare or school shut down due to Covid
⃝ Do you meet the Income Requirements?
If the answer was “YES” to all of the above, move on to the next questions.
⃝ Have you received Covid assistance from the City of Decatur before. This could have been through either Dove, Decatur Township, or Salvation Army?
⃝ Do you or someone in your household have a conflict of interest between the City of Decatur or Dove, Inc.? This conflict of interest could include:
Being related to an employee, agent, consultant, officer or elected official or appointed official of the City or Dove, Inc., by birth, marriage or adoption and resides within the same household. This would refer specifically to members of the Neighborhood Services Division of the City of Decatur and DFA of Dove, Inc.
If the answer was “NO” to the above two questions, you can move on with getting an application.
You can also go to DFA Decatur Locations sites,
listed below, for help with starting the process.
informational flyer for sharing
DFA Locations and Hours
*If there is inclement weather, please contact 217.433.7435 to check on in-person office hours
Macon County Sites:
Decatur Public Library, 130 N. Franklin, Decatur - Mondays, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Homeward Bound Offices, 788 E. Clay, Decatur - Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
April 4 - hours will be 9:00-11:00 a.m. ONLY
May 2 - hours will be 9:00-11:00 a.m. ONLY
May 29 – Dove Closed
DFA@doveinc.org or 217.619.9108
DeWitt County Site:
Dove DeWitt County Office, 803 W. Leander, Clinton
March 22 – 9:00-11:00 a.m.
April 13, April 27 – 9:00-11:00 a.m.
May 11, May 25 – 9:00-11:00 a.m.
DFA@doveinc.org or 217.433.7435
Shelby County Site:
HOST SITE: Salvation Army Building, 133 E Main St, Shelbyville
April 6, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
April 20, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
May 4, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
May 18, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
DFA@doveinc.org or 217.433.7435
Moultrie County Site:
HOST SITE: United Methodist Church, 216 W. Jefferson Street, Sullivan
April 5, April 19, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
May 3, May 17, May 31, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
DFA@doveinc.org or 217.433.7435
Piatt County Site:
HOST SITE: First Presbyterian Church, 214 S. Charter Street, Monticello
March 22, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
April 12, April 26, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
May 10, May 24, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
DFA@doveinc.org or 217.433.7435
How can you help?
Donations to the program are always needed and welcomed. Please send your donation to:
DFA
Dove, Inc.
302 S. Union, Decatur, IL 62522
If you would like more information about the program or would like a speaker about the program, please contact the program at 217.619.9108 or by e-mail at DFA@doveinc.org.
DFA serves as the Warm Neighbor Cool Friends Site
for Macon, Piatt and DeWitt Counties
- Applicant can receive WNCF assistance only once per heating season, which is 9/1 to 5/31 each year and once per cooling season, 6/1 to 8/31.
- WNCF matches customer payments (within the last 45 days) up to $500 during heating season and up to $200 during cooling season
- Heating grants are based solely on income guide-lines while cooling grants are intended for seniors, disabled or those with medical conditions exacerbated by heat (with a doctor's letter)
- WNCF pledge may create a credit balance
Programs require:
- Driver's License or other Photo I.D. and Copy of current Ameren Illinois utility bill
- Applicant must reside at the address on the bill and have active service in his or her name
- Income eligibility, see guidelines in the box