Pioneer Center for Human Services opens 70-bed homeless shelter in McHenry County

Posted August 27, 2020 11:00 pm

Submitted by Debra Kulinski

The new 10,500-square-feet PADS shelter expanded Pioneer Center's homeless services from a 34-bed shelter to a 70-bed shelter. Courtesy of Pioneer Center

Pioneer Center's McHenry County PADS Homeless Shelter, on 1805 S. Route 31 in McHenry, is now open.

PADS expanded their homeless services from a 34-bed shelter to a new 70-bed shelter to best meet the needs of the community. Last year, PADS assisted more than 220 homeless people including men, women and families.

"The top reasons for homelessness are lack of affordable housing, unemployment, mental illness, substance abuse and medical issues," explains Director of Homeless Services, Carrie Freund. "Homelessness can happen to anyone. It only takes one life event for most of us to become homeless ourselves," adds Freund.

McHenry County PADS offers emergency shelter needs including, access to showers, laundry facilities, transportation, computers and an address at which to receive mail.

In addition, PADS provides support services, to help individuals experiencing homelessness work toward becoming self-sufficient.

These support services enable individuals to receive crisis intervention, case management, linkage to community resources and life skills training.

"We are open, and clients are being provided services in our new shelter, but construction is not complete," states Co-CEO Sam Tenuto. "We need to continue our construction and provide improvements throughout the building, including, a full commercial kitchen, security cameras, outdoor sitting area and parking lot updates."

To help continue construction of this much needed homeless shelter, watch the PADS shelter video, donate and help complete Pioneer Center's "Shelter of Hope."

"Any amount you can donate would be appreciated and will help homeless men, women and children throughout our community," Tenuto adds.

Pioneer Center for Human Services is a private, non-profit charitable organization, providing programs for people with developmental disabilities, behavioral health services, and homeless shelter needs to the McHenry County community.

To learn more about Pioneer Center, visit www.pioneercenter.org.

To donate and help the homeless, visit charity.gofundme.com/padshomelessshelter.

Signs being installed on the newly opened Pioneer Center PADS Homeless Shelter on 1805 S. Route 31 in McHenry. Courtesy of Pioneer Center

PADS helps homeless men, women and families with children throughout McHenry County. As part of its mission, "Homeless not Hopeless," they offer a meal, bed, a shower and a place for their essentials. Courtesy of PADS McHenry County

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