Kane Co. pledges $500K to help homeless

Lazarus House in St. Charles is set to receive nearly $500,000 in federal stimulus funds to help resurrect the hopes of local renters facing homelessness.

Since last July, the nonprofit homeless shelter has averaged nearly 200 phone calls each month from people about to lose their home because they can't make rent payments after losing a job.

The phone is ringing even more in recent days as home foreclosures drive families back to the rental market, said Liz Eakins, outreach manager of the shelter.

"The need is enormous," Eakins said. "And it's increasing at a pretty dramatic rate."

Lazarus House is providing monthly rental subsidies to 46 households, according to its most recent newsletter. The shelter first began administering rent subsidy programs in 2006 with just one household.

The Kane County Board's Development Committee unanimously approved plans Tuesday to hand over $500,000 in stimulus funds earmarked to help prevent homelessness. The full county board must still vote on the matter before it becomes final.

Once the shelter receives the money, it will become available to local residents who need help with rent or utilities for up to 18 months. The stimulus money can't be used to assist with mortgage payments.

"This was devised in recognition of what can we do to keep people from shelters or living under bridges," Eakins said.

The money also will fund case managers that will help recipients develop a long-term plan of how to get back on their feet, including job retraining or returning to school.

The shelter always has had the ability to grant some renter assistance, via funding from the state. But that program is more restrictive, providing only a single month of assistance.

The status of the state-funded program, and the ability of the shelter itself to keep its doors open, are still in limbo as the General Assembly sorts out the state budget. None of the stimulus money will help fund the shelter's day-to-day operations.

Eakins said no employee at Lazarus House has lost hope yet.

"We do know that God is who called Lazarus House into being," Eakins said. "He is going to continue getting us the resources that we need. So we're not doing anything in a panic. We're just living a no frills existence right now."