Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois subgranted $20,000 to Dove, Inc. These funds support the agency’s work providing interim housing and emergency shelter, short-term rental and mortgage assistance, utility assistance, and increased access to emergency food.

The Macon County Continuum of Care Governing Board convened and developed a plan of action to address needs during the public health crisis. The Coordinated Entry Outreach team sought out individuals who were unsheltered, conducted intakes in the field, temporarily housed people in the motel, and linked them with other services, including permanent housing. In addition, Homeward Bound provided every household with case management and follow-up services during their motel stay.

Homeward Bound also reached out to area landlords to secure potential housing units for rapid rehousing. As a result, many households only stayed in the hotel for a brief time. One such case involved a single mother and her four children. Dove was able to provide her with temporary shelter, case management, and relocation assistance. Although she was unemployed at the time, she sought assistance and has since gained full-time employment. She is now living in her new home. Her story is not an isolated event — the project has assisted with providing permanent housing for twenty-six households, with more opportunities pending.

Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois has been able to provide two $10,000 subgrants to Dove — one for May and June, and the second for July and August. The funds have supported Dove’s work providing interim housing and emergency shelter, short-term rental and mortgage assistance, utility assistance, and increased access to emergency food during the pandemic.

The first subgrant helped Dove provide 2,101 nights of shelter to thirty-one households. Sixteen households received rental and mortgage assistance, and two families received utility assistance. The agency also served a total of 467 meals. Dove estimates that it will be able to assist 50 people with the second round of funding.

As it did before the pandemic, Dove’s Coordinated Entry Outreach team meets with homeless service providers each week to review housing options and plans for individuals who have been identified through local outreach efforts. They then work to link the individuals with housing options, which may take the form of emergency shelter or permanent housing. Dove assesses each person’s need, and the most vulnerable receive top priority.

The agency’s Domestic Violence program has also continued its 24-hour hotlines during the pandemic. As of June, it is allowing some in-person counseling. It has also resumed limited group services.

Dove is a coalition of religious organizations, volunteers, and advocates. Its mission is to work for justice, equality, and understanding among all people, through its efforts to counter social injustice and help clients meet their needs. It serves clients in Macon, Shelby, DeWitt, Piatt, and Moultrie Counties.

Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois subgranted $10,000 to Project NOW to support the agency’s work providing short-term rental and mortgage assistance, as well as utility assistance.

As the pandemic continues, Project NOW hopes to partner with other agencies to reach those in need in the community.

Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois was able to subgrant $10,000 to Project NOW to help cover the cost of offering short-term rental and mortgage assistance and utility assistance.

Using the funding, Project NOW provided nine households with rental and mortgage assistance. In addition, the agency helped another nine households cover utility bills. The households served included children and individuals with disabilities, as well as eight people experiencing wage loss.

Individuals and families seeking this assistance can apply over the phone or at www.helpillinoisfamilies.com.

Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois subgranted $10,000 to the Shawnee Development Council to support the agency’s work providing short-term rental and mortgage assistance, as well as utility assistance.

The agency used the funding to make assistance available to those who had exhausted benefits available through the state’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance program.

Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois subgranted $25,000 to The Haven to support the agency’s work providing interim housing and emergency shelter.

Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois was able to provide The Haven with a total of $25,000 through two subgrants—one for May and June, and the other for July and August—to help cover costs during the pandemic. The funding will help The Haven provide interim housing and emergency shelter to people experiencing homelessness or who are unstably housed.

In May and June, the funding helped the agency provide 1,400 shelter nights to twelve families—an average of 23 individuals per day, including at least 12 children. The Haven also served approximately 5,000 plates of food.

The Haven projects it will be able to assist 60 people with the funds in July and August.

Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois subgranted $10,000 to the Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council to support the agency’s work providing short-term rental and mortgage assistance, as well as utility assistance.

Before the pandemic began, Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council operated food pantries in three counties; provided rent, mortgage, and utility assistance; and offered foreclosure and housing counseling. The agency has provided these and numerous additional services to low-income residents of Monroe, Perry, and Randolph Counties since its founding in 1965.

In the weeks following the start of COVID-19, Western Egyptian’s food pantries began offering pre-made boxes for curbside pickup. The senior nutrition program put group activities on hold and switched from eat-in dining to carry-out and delivered meals. Counseling services were provided through phone, email, or online conversations instead of face-to-face meetings.

Through all of this, Western Egyptian has continued to assist families with rent, mortgage, and utility payments. Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois subgranted $10,000 to Western Egyptian to provide short-term rent and mortgage assistance, as well as utility assistance, to unstably housed individuals and families. The agency made assistance available to households earning less than 100 percent of the area median income.

With the funding, Western Egyptian was able to serve twenty-nine people. Ten families received assistance to pay past-due rent, and one individual received help paying an overdue utility bill. The households included children and individuals with healthcare needs, as well as seven individuals experiencing wage loss. Two of the households that received assistance were ineligible for unemployment insurance, public benefits, or federal stimulus assistance.

Western Egyptian remains committed to finding innovative ways to meet the needs of the communities it serves.

Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois subgranted $20,000 to Freeport Area Church Cooperative to support the agency’s work providing interim housing and emergency shelter, short-term rental and mortgage assistance, and utility assistance, as well as emergency food and supplies.

Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois has subgranted a total of $20,000 to FACC—one $10,000 subgrant for May and June, and a second for July and August—to cover increased operating costs. Keeping the shelter open involves feeding guests three meals a day and requires increased staffing. Since the start of the public health crisis, FACC has been staffing the shelter 24/7 as well, preparing meals, implementing health precautions and conducting additional sanitizing, as well as attending to the needs of the clients.

During May and June, FACC used the funding to provide 488 nights of shelter, short-term rental and mortgage assistance to four households, and utility assistance to two households, in addition to serving 183 meals. The organization anticipates serving 24 individuals with the second subgrant.

Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois subgranted $25,000 to Courage Connection to support the agency’s work providing interim housing and emergency shelter.

To figure out how to safely continue operating during the pandemic, Courage Connection sought guidance from local public health officials. The agency decided to temporarily relocate all residents to a local hotel so individuals and their families can practice social distancing. Each room has a microwave and mini-fridge so clients can keep and prepare food. Courage Connection staff deliver food and personal care items when needed. Clients also receive wellness check calls daily.

Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois subgranted $25,000—$15,000 for May and June, and $10,000 for July and August—to cover costs during the pandemic. Courage Connection used the funding to provide 2,166 shelter nights to 40 households during May and June. The agency expects to serve another 40 households during July and August.

“People don’t realize that the services are available,” Courage Connection’s Osajuli Cravens told news station WAND. “They might feel because of COVID-19, the services aren’t there, so they’re choosing to stay in a bad situation, and they don’t have to.”

Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois subgranted $25,000 to Hope Haven of DeKalb County to support the agency’s work providing interim housing and emergency shelter.

But the pandemic doesn’t change Hope Haven’s directive. The organization’s mission is to “provide emergency shelter to homeless individuals and families, permanent housing for homeless individuals and families with a disability, and supportive services to help break the cycle of future homelessness.”

Thanks to the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, Housing Action Illinois subgranted $25,000—$15,000 for May and June, and $10,000 for July and August—to Hope Haven of DeKalb County to support its work providing interim housing and emergency shelter. Hope Haven helped 92 people with the funding from the first subgrant, providing a total of 2,379 shelter nights and 7,137 meals. The agency hopes to serve another 92 individuals and families during July and August.

“All nonprofit agencies create budgets for the fiscal year, July through June, and there’s no way we could have foreseen this kind of crisis,” Executive Director Lesly Wicks told The Daily-Chronicle in May. “Now it’s the last two months of the fiscal year and we’re carrying a huge deficit due to COVID-19. We’ve been using operational funds to pay for the crisis, but we still have those operational expenses. Getting relief from [Housing Action] really helps us stabilize our budget and continue to serve the homeless.”