LIGHTHOUSE Resources
Financial Aid & Assistance
The LIGHTHOUSE Committee is here to assist students in applying for and receiving federal and state financial aid.
Application for Unaccompanied & Homeless Youth
Financial Aid for Foster Youth in Illinois
On Campus Services
The Bearcat Pantry is a collaborative effort among the Student Affairs Department, Chaplain's Office, and various faculty, staff, administration, alumni, and area churches who seek to eliminate barriers and challenges of food insecurity and hunger so that university students can remain at McKendree University and ultimately, earn their degrees.
Accessing Public Benefits
Students experiencing housing instability may be unfamiliar with how to access public assistance. The resources below can help determine eligibility and connect students to essential support services.
Illinois Application for Benefits Eligibility (ABE)
A one-stop Illinois application that helps determine eligibility for programs such as food assistance and health insurance.
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SNAP - The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is A federal program that provides financial assistance to help low-income individuals purchase groceries and maintain a healthy diet.
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Medicaid and CHIP - Health insurance programs that provide free or low-cost medical coverage to eligible individuals, including unaccompanied and homeless youth.
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Health Coverage for Homeless and At-Risk Youth Homeless and at-risk youth are likely to be eligible for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act (often referred to as the ACA). The ACA vastly simplifies and expands access to affordable health care, including for low-income and homeless youth, and allows states to expand eligibility for Medicaid, a health care program for low-income individuals
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An interactive tool that helps individuals locate free food resources across Illinois, including food pantries, meal programs, and community assistance sites, with no application required.
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
ISAC’s mission is to help make college accessible and affordable for students throughout Illinois. ISAC provides comprehensive, objective, and timely information on education and financial aid for students and their families—giving them access to the tools they need to help make the educational choices that are right for them. Then, through the state’s flagship Monetary Award Program and other scholarship and grant programs ISAC manages, ISAC can help students make those choices a reality. To learn more, visit isac.org
The Housing Resource Center (HRC)
The center provides comprehensive services to the homeless through partnerships with St. Clair County public and non profit agencies. It serves as the first point of entry for the homeless to enter the Continuum of Care system. The Continuum of Care system is designed to provide all services that homeless persons may need including job training, job placement, shelter and support services. Call 618-825-3330 for more information
On-Campus Housing
We seek to develop a plan to provide access to on-campus housing or to suitable off-campus
housing between academic breaks to homeless students or students-in-care enrolled
at the institution.
McKendree University Office of Residence Life provides on-campus housing for students enrolled at the institution, and we promise
to:
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Provide information about the availability of on-campus housing to students experiencing homelessness and students in care and grant them housing priority.
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Provide access to on-campus housing that remains open during academic breaks and waive fees for the on-campus housing during academic breaks.
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Allow students experiencing homelessness and students-in-care who are enrolled part-time at the institution to access on-campus housing.
