Effort to expand Hesed House
Aurora's Hesed House leaders say they would love nothing more than to shut their business down.
Because in doing so, it would mean there were no more homeless or poor people to serve in the Aurora area.
But leaders have a ways to go before reaching that goal. So their more immediate solution to fight homelessness is to launch a $1 million fundraising campaign to expand services at Hesed House.
They plan on buying the 37,000-square-foot building across the street at 680 S. River St., to set up a "one-stop shop" of social service agencies that can together better serve homeless people.
"If we can get the services all together, the ability to collaborate is second to none," said Hesed House Executive Director Ryan Dowd.
Supporters helped launch the Building Bridges to Brighter Futures Capital Campaign at a reception Thursday.
Hesed House, at 659 S. River St., is a center of ministries and nonprofits, including Public Action to Deliver Shelter, the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry and Aurora Soup Kitchen.
It began in 1982 as an overnight emergency shelter, based on the concept that the homeless simply needed food and shelter before they would find a way back into housing, leaders said.
That model today is ineffective, leaders say.
Experts now believe the way to attack homelessness is through myriad services, including mental health and substance abuse counseling and medical, employment and legal aid.
Besides its emergency shelter, Hesed House offers transitional living, medical, job coaching and legal clinics, case management and more.
Leaders can expand their holistic approach further by buying and renovating the manufacturing building at 680 S. River.
It could house satellite offices for groups such as AID, Inc., Breaking Free, Inc., Waubonsee Community College's employment services and Aunt Martha's Youth Services, among others.
Allowing agencies to work together to provide treatment increases the chances of a homeless person permanently staying off the streets, Hesed House leaders say.
The new building would be rehabbed in three phases, the first of which would include the purchase and a small renovation. Leaders hope to close on the facility in November.
Future phases would include creating a daytime services center and a transitional jobs program.
The new building also would help alleviate a space crunch inside the current facility.
Leaders are nearing capacity in their shelter and agency case managers are assigned two to an office. An on-site trailer has been set up for some to work out of.
Leaders said Thursday they hope to raise $1 million for the first phase by year's end.
They're starting with $177,000, thanks to a $100,000 Kane County Riverboat Committee grant and a $60,000 donation from the Jim Oberweis family, Dowd said.
If you go
What: Hike for Hesed
When: 9 a.m. Saturday
Where: Hesed House, 659 S. River St., Aurora
Cost: Participants ask donors to sponsor walk; those collecting $25 or more will receive T-shirt
Info: www.hesedhouse.org