Lake Co. homeless programs to get $1.6 million
Fourteen programs aiming to assist homeless men, woman and children in Lake County will share more than $1.6 million in new federal grants, officials announced.
PADS Crisis Services, Catholic Charities and a program providing transitional housing for homeless people with HIV or AIDS are among the beneficiaries of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant.
"The existing homeless assistance programs available in Lake County, which are already among the nation's best, will continue to be enhanced thanks to this grant award," Lake County Board member Steve Carlson, a Gurnee Republican who leads the health and community services committee, said in a news release. "Lake County's homeless population will benefit greatly."
A recent overnight census of the county's homeless population turned up 367 people who met the federal definition of homeless. That total was down about 16 percent from the year before.
The county board requests federal funding every year for homeless programs. It disperses the money to more local agencies and efforts.
The recipients are:
•Alexian Brothers' The Harbor, which will get $110,250 to fund transitional housing for homeless people with HIV or AIDS.
•Christian Outreach of Lutherans, which will receive $42,290 for transitional housing for families.
•Catholic Charities, which will receive $232,635 for two programs concerning case management, counseling services and other assistance.
•I-PLUS, which will receive $12,805 to help fund housing in Shields Township.
•Independence Center, which will receive $59,184 to fund eight housing units for mentally ill homeless people.
•Lake County Haven, which will get $46,274 for housing for women and children.
•The Lake County Health Department, which will receive $329,664 to house chronically homeless people with disabilities.
•The Lake County planning department, which will receive $95,648 to maintain a federally mandated homeless management information system.
•The Lake County Residential Development Corp., which will get $82,766 to help house homeless families recovering from substance abuse who also are involved with the state department of children and family services.
•PADS Crisis Services, which will receive $363,707 for emergency shelter and transitional housing for chronically homeless people with disabilities.
•Prairie State Legal Services, which will get $50,000 to provide legal services to homeless people.
•Waukegan Township, which will get $184,940 for a housing program for women and children.
The county board could vote March 17 to formally accept the money.