Township's Hard Line Approach to Personal Finance Appreciated by Residents

For all intensive purposes, you can call Linda Young and Kimberly Owens the DuPage Township dynamic duo. 

Young, a Housing and Career Development counselor, and Owens, a General Assistance administrator, work seamlessly to address the needs of thousands of residents struggling to make ends meet.

You've heard of "brothers from another mother"—these two are "sisters from another mother." Each acts as a guide offering much needed assistance to residents muddling through troubling financial situations.

Owens is the first line of defense. Beginning with a brief consultation, she is able to offer emergency funds covering issues such as discontinuance of electric, gas and water.

"I see people in crisis situations," she said. "When they come here we take a different approach. It’s not about just helping in the short term. Yes we fill gaps, but the goal is to help people go from dependence to independence."

To reach those goals Owens refers clients to Young, who teaches a free budget and credit counseling class on Tuesdays to help individuals solve financial difficulties.

Young also oversees an extensive effort to connect the unemployed with companies that currently need help.

Maureen Fox, a DuPage Township administrator said in most cases, Young and Owens act as the front line to people in need.

"We are the front line. We’re seeing every aspect of the economic crunch and it has hit middle America hard," Fox said. "It’s challenging, yet we have competent staff that constantly asks, 'What else can we offer?' They are dedicated to meeting those needs."

That mindset motivated Young to join the staff a few years back.

"It all started with a cup of joe in the summer of 2007," Young said. "I had expertise in the mortgage business and Bill Mayer (Township supervisor) wanted to pick my brain to help with the significant increase of clients they’d seen who were losing their homes.

"Personally, I had become disillusioned and infuriated with the industry I was working in." Young added. "This job allows me to directly address financial problems. A lot of what is going on has to do with people overextending themselves and being unrealistic."

The common sense class Young leads is designed to help people identify the root of their problems.

"Kim and I have a running joke," Young said. "We have yet to see someone who comes in and say’s 'Oh my God, I can’t pay my cell phone bill.'"

Owens said in researching a clients particular situation, she sees a repeated pattern—the non-essentials get paid, while the essentials fall by the wayside.

"People tend to pay the things they consider important and know will get shut off," Owens said. "It takes a lot to have your utilities shut off, but try not paying your cell phone bill for more than a month."

Young's free budget classes are held Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at the . They are open and free to the public, however registration is required.