Suburban agency combating homelessness gets $2 million from state

The Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County will receive $2 million in state funding to help homeless people find work.

The funding, part of $6 million awarded through the Home Illinois Workforce Pilot Program, is intended to boost efforts to improve employment opportunities for the homeless, help establish their financial stability and improve their ability to afford permanent housing.

“One of the pillars of our state strategic plan to end homelessness is securing financial stability,” Christine Haley, chief homelessness officer for Illinois, said in an announcement of the grant funding Tuesday. “The Home Illinois Workforce Pilot Program represents a significant advancement in strengthening systems to support individuals experiencing homelessness seek and attain meaningful work.”

The Hillside-based alliance works to prevent homelessness by providing interventions before households experience a housing crisis, build system capacity for a rapid exit to permanent housing options and expand options for permanent housing.