Waukegan suspends homeless agency's business license

Leaders of a Lake County homeless agency say they are exploring their options on how to serve clients after Waukegan suspended a business license they need to operate from a Grand Avenue building.

PADS Lake County Executive Director Joel Williams said the agency was served Monday morning with a notice that its business license was suspended immediately for a violation of a Waukegan ordinance. City documents contend PADS has been conducting business in a way to "constitute a breach of the peace or a menace to the health, safety or welfare of the public."

PADS employees may continue using the headquarters facility at 1800 Grand Ave., Williams said, but they are not allowed to handle homeless clients during the suspension.

Williams said that building is a day-resource center and not an overnight shelter. He said PADS employees are exploring how to serve 50 to 60 clients daily without the office, which also is used as a gathering spot so homeless may be bused to overnight shelters across Lake County.

"This is where people will come to meet with case managers, get some of their basic needs taken care of," he said.

Waukegan spokeswoman Jane Ferry said PADS must appeal the business license suspension notice within 20 days or face revocation. She said Waukegan and PADS have had a good, longtime relationship.

"I believe PADS and the city of Waukegan will work this out," Ferry said.

Williams said there have been some panhandling complaints filed with the city related to visitors to the PADS building. He said city officials on Monday relayed concerns about a tip theft from a nearby restaurant.

"There was no evidence it was a person associated with PADS or anything like that," Williams said.