DuPage provides $85,000 to help pay for hotel rooms for the homeless

Two nonprofit groups will receive financial assistance from DuPage County so they can continue renting hotel rooms for homeless people during the state's stay-at-home order.

County board members on Tuesday agreed to provide $50,000 to DuPagePads and $35,000 to Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet.

The grants come more than three weeks after the COVID-19 pandemic forced DuPagePads and Hope House - which is operated by Catholic Charities - to close their shelter sites and provide clients with hotel rooms and food.

DuPagePads, which is based in Wheaton, used $42,000 from its general operating budget to start renting rooms at motels and hotels. Rooms were given to elderly clients with chronic health conditions, families and then individuals.

Mary Keating, DuPage's director of community services, said the steps taken by DuPage Charities were done to reduce the possibility of transmission of COVID-19.

"Both agencies experienced an unanticipated financial strain by putting folks in hotels," Keating said. "But it was the best decision in terms of their staff, their clients and their volunteers."

Money for both grants will come from DuPage's Human Services Grant Fund. The $1 million fund provides grants to agencies serving the needs of county residents.

DuPagePads and Catholic Charities were expected to receive grants from the fund later in the year, but officials decided to provide the money now because of the crisis.

"We remain dedicated to protecting our county's most vulnerable residents and take pride in being able to help these two distinguished organizations," county board Chairman Dan Cronin said in a statement.

Depending on how long the crisis lasts, DuPagePads may need more funding, officials said. Donations are being accepted on the group's website at dupagepads.org.