PADS finally finds a local pad to help people who are homeless

There were periods of exhilaration and anticipation, followed by deep lows of disappointment.

Libby Hoeft, wife of the late state Sen. Douglas Hoeft of Elgin, vividly recalls the roller coaster of emotions in the five-year quest to find a permanent home for Public Action to Deliver Shelter of Elgin.

While the homeless facility, called the Douglas L. Hoeft Resource Center, finally opened two weeks ago at 1730-1736 Berkley St., near Elgin Community College, organizers had endured years of obstacles.

Motivated in large part by Libby Hoeft, who championed an Elgin-based homeless shelter to carry on her husband's wishes, organizers endured four failed property attempts before securing the Berkley Street location late last year.

Doug Hoeft, a veteran Republican legislator from Elgin who specialized in education issues, died in 2002 after complications following surgery to clear a blocked artery. Hoeft had secured state money to build a homeless facility before he died at the age of 60.

"I can remember going down to Springfield with Pat Yauch, who was the PADS special project director at the time, and walking into a state official's office," recalled Libby Hoeft.

"We were so hopeful we would secure some land at the Elgin Mental Health Center site. Before we could hardly sit down, the person said there was no way it was going to happen. We literally went back to our hotel room, sat down on the bed and cried."

Before the Hoefts could wipe away their tears, they received a phone call on another lead in West Dundee.

"We drove out of Springfield in a snowstorm to begin discussion on that property," Hoeft recalled.

That property deal, which started two years ago, would eventually fail, too, leaving organizers wondering if the struggling 18-year-old organization would ever find a permanent home.

PADS relied on the generous congregations of Elgin-area churches, which opened their doors for services during the winter months.

But a steering committee prompted the group to look for leased space, and the Berkley Street property became available.

Thanks to the city of Elgin, which provided an interest-free, two-year loan of $300,000, plus another $250,000 the organization raised in only months, PADS secured a lease and began renovating the 13,000-square-foot industrial building this past December.

Although they do not own it, the building gives the organization a new start and allows as many as 60 homeless individuals to use PADS services year-round.

Already, 30 individuals are using the new center.

"People aren't used to a facility being opened this time of year," explained Brittany Mitchell, a special projects coordinator for PADS and one of six staffers at the nonprofit.

"Plus, we can do laundry in our own building. You wouldn't believe what a treat that is for us."

PADS leases part of the building to the Wayside Center, a Christian-based organization that moved from its former Dundee Avenue location just south of Summit Street. While the two organizations share some space, Wayside operates several rooms for its own clients, including a computer lab and a fully decorated lounge with a television, books, a desk and dimmed lighting.

PADS has its own fully equipped bathrooms with showers, and even a serene outdoor courtyard equipped with picnic tables.

Participants receive smaller items such as sleeping pads and mail service. They also secure a storage tub, which allows them to leave behind personal items during the day. Clients are also fully evaluated when they enter and receive a list of referrals.

"We don't see ourselves in the business of providing permanent housing," said Mitchell, adding the facility opens at 7 p.m. and closes promptly at 7 a.m.

"As our executive director Dennis Hewitt says, we are a 'stop in the way to getting back on track.'"

Indeed, many of the clients are temporary. Libby Hoeft said one man who checked in last week informed everyone that it was his last night at the shelter.

"He had secured his own apartment," explained Hoeft.

"He said, 'Don't worry. I'll be back to volunteer.' Some of our best site coordinators are people who were formerly homeless."

Hoeft said she was delighted the building was named in honor of her late husband. To commemorate his commitment to the homeless, she commissioned a bronze bust of Doug Hoeft, which rests prominently on one wall amid six other busts known collectively as "Faces of the Homeless." Local artisans prepared the pieces several years ago.

"We wanted to put Doug's face up there because he was such an advocate for the homeless," Hoeft said.