CSC Strives to Meet the Ever-Changing Needs of Local Residents

When you’re two years and nearly $50,000 behind on mortgage payments, a reasonable outcome seems farfetched at best.

But that’s exactly what local organizations like the Community Service Countil of Northern Will County—commonly referred to as the CSC—are here for.

The CSC is one of the area’s oldest charitable agencies, formed in 1973 and incorporated as a 501(c) 3 organization in 1978 to provide a wide range of counseling services.

Utilizing outlets in both Bolingbrook and Romeoville, residents are extended professional support to work through their personal problems and address the social service needs found in a diverse community.

"I come in contact with a lot of people who are going through a difficult time," said Carol Penning, Bolingbrook’s village clerk and CSC board president. "Helping them fuels our passion to keep the agency going."

For more than three decades, CSC counselors have been available to address family issues, parent-child conflicts, marital problems, child and teen behavior problems, divorce, remarriage, blended family adjustments, interpersonal relationship, job related issues, anxiety/depression and eating disorders.

CSC also offers housing and financial counseling for mortgage default and foreclosure. Give the times, this may be their biggest workload.

"Our biggest challenge has been helping clients with foreclosure prevention," said CSC Executive Director Robert Kalnicky. "The response has been increased funding through agencies such as the Illinois Housing Development Authority. The problem for us is that most people wait too long before they seek assistance."

Kalnicky, who recently announced his , said foreclosure prevention counselors are not miracle workers and to get the best result, clients should seek assistance when a change in employment or lifestyle status might adversely affect their ability to meet their monthly obligations.

"We just had a lady come in who was losing her home because she was two years and $49,000 behind on her mortgage payments," he said. "We understand dealing with banks is a difficult process and our counselors are experienced in working with lenders, but they just are more successful when they have time to work with a client to lay out a plan of action."

Because CSC is a HUD-certified agency, there is no fee for foreclosure prevention counseling services.  This year alone, CSC housing counselors have assisted 130 clients and are poised to help numerous others move beyond smothering debt.

"It’s been satisfying to work here," said receptionist Pat Garcia. "Sometimes when clients come into the lobby you can see the worry on their faces. It’s fulfilling when you see them leave with hope that their situation is going get better."

Over the years, CSC has worked to continually expand its services to meet local needs.

One of its most recent moves is into pre-purchase counseling—because of a focus on neighborhood stabilization, 50 to 60 first-time home buyers will be extended the opportunity to learn about buying and financing rehabbed HUD homes.

Forming partnerships with local companies, who in turn extend CSC counseling services to their employees, is another move CSC has made. 

And rounding out an already full compliment of services is CSC’s clinical partnership with the Will County Court System—all CSC counseling programs meet court ordered criteria for DUI evaluations, drug assessments, domestic violence as well as adult and teen anger management.

Operation of CSC’s annual $500,000 budget comes from federal, state, county and local sources along with donations from organizations like the United Way. The DuPage Township donates CSC’s office space at 719 Parkwood Ave. in Romeoville. CSC also offers its services at numerous locations, the newest being its space at 498 W Boughton Rd. in Bolingbrook.

For more information on CSC, visit www.thecsc.org or call 815-886-5000 (Romeoville) or 630-759-9494 (Bolingbrook).