McHenry County Continuum of Care for the Homeless Committee
“Working together to end homelessness in McHenry County”
Since 1995,a committee has been meeting to address McHenry County homelessness issues, problems and solutions. This committee was formed as a response to the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mandate that communities come together to form partnerships in order to receive funding. Though HUD awards money every year for homeless assistance prior to the formation of the committee very little of this funding came to McHenryCounty. However, in the past twelve years, over $8.8 million in HUD homeless assistance funding was awarded to projects proposed and submitted through the McHenry County Continuum of Care. The committee and member agencies also work with the other funding sources, including (but not limited to)McHenry County, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), and the Illinois Departments of Human Services (DHS) and Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), as well as other private and corporate foundations, to provide the necessary housing and supportive services to an expanding population base.
The McHenry County Continuum of Care Committee consists of a variety of people and organizations including representatives from McHenry County government agencies, food pantries, townships, faith-based organizations, housingdevelopers, and healthcare and other social service providers, all working together to provide assistance and address the problem of homelessness. Committee members include, but are not limited to: the Salvation Army, PADS, Pioneer Center, Prairie State Legal Services, Turning Point, Home of the Sparrow, Crystal Lake Bank, Consumer Credit Counseling Services, Transitional Living Services, Illinois Migrant Council, Thresholds, Veterans Assistance Commission, Family Health Partnership Clinic, Veterans Affairs and the McHenry County Housing Authority, Crisis Line, Mental Health Board, Regional Office of Education (Lake-McHenry) and Department of Planning and Development – Community Development Division.
The committee believes that the best approach to alleviating homelessness is a ‘Continuum of Care’ or a community-based process that provides a comprehensive response to the different needs of homeless individuals and families. This comprehensive approach includes prevention, outreach and supportive services as well as access to emergency, transitional, and permanent or permanent supportive housing. Service providers are linked through the McHenry County Provider’s Communication Network (PCN), an on-line program developed specifically for the county’s homeless population. The Continuum of Care Committee continues to work towards solving the problem of homelessness in McHenryCounty. In addition to developing housing andrelated supportive service projects, the Continuum of Care Committee has also been engaged in outreach activities including public forums on affordable housing and homeless issues.