Helping Hands of Springfield Moves Clients into Permanent Housing

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Housing Action Illinois subgranted $15,000 to Helping Hands of Springfield—thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund—to support the agency’s work providing short-term rental and mortgage assistance, as well as utility assistance, to families and individuals experiencing homelessness.

Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois subgranted $15,000 to Helping Hands of Springfield. Helping Hands of Springfield is supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness or who are unstably housed with short term rental and mortgage assistance, as well as utility assistance. The organization has been serving Sangamon County since 1989.

Local media outlets have taken notice of their work, and we’re thrilled that they’re off to a great start. Helping Hands shared this update on the work that the relief funding made possible:

The incredible team we have is already housing people with the $15,000 we received from Housing Action Illinois. Immediately our shelter team, our permanent supportive housing team, and our administrative team came together to say “How can we house people?” Then they did it.

This week we are helping three people who are in emergency shelter right now sign leases to their new apartments. And we’re helping those in our housing program take that step to independence, then we’re going to welcome several more people (some of whom are on the streets) enter into permanent supported housing—a home with the supports they need to stay housed.

This is just the beginning; we anticipate being able to assist approximately 15-20 people transition from homeless to housed over the next month.

Moving is never enjoyable. UNLESS…..you’re moving out of a shelter and into your own home. Today we are blessed to be moving several shelter clients both into independent living and transitioning some into Supported Housing. We could not have done this without help. It costs us approximately $1,100 to get each person established in their new home. We are grateful to all of our supporters who have given generously through our website, mailed in monetary donations and supplied us with items to make this happen.

Read more about Helping Hands of Springfield: Helping Hands of Springfield Moves Clients into Homes (WAND, 5/22/20).