Lake County United to host groundbreaking ceremony

More than 200 Lake County residents are expected to gather at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at Santa Maria del Popolo School, 116 N. Lake St., Mundelein, to celebrate the upcoming ground breaking of a new, 40-unit, affordable and supportive housing building in Mundelein.

Twenty-five percent of the project's units will be set aside for those with physical and mental disabilities. This is the second such structure Lake County United has facilitated; the first is in Grayslake. It is part of a greater effort to address the needs and issues identified by Lake County residents as important.

The June 18 program will include information on LCU's work on behavioral health issues, education and supportive housing. Each of these problems were identified through a series of interviews and group meetings with Lake County residents who are affiliated with LCU's member organizations: faith based and not-for-profit organizations.

A nonpartisan organization, LCU works by identifying concerns, then establishing relationships with all of the parties involved to work toward creating solutions by addressing common goals. County officials who are working on these issues have been invited to participate in the June 18 program.

Last year more than 1,700 Lake County residents completed an access-to-healthcare survey, a joint project of LCU and the Lake County Health Department. The results showed that mental health issues touch people and groups throughout the county.

In fact, 40 percent of the Lake County jail inmates are on psychotropic medications, making this a criminal justice issue, as well. Economically, it costs five times more to house someone in jail than in a community-based treatment facility.

LCU is collaborating with other groups throughout the county who are working on this concern. Many of them will have representatives at the June 18 program to answer questions and provide information.

For information, contact Lindsay Crawford at (630) 546-1586.