In a move to bolster Evanston's efforts to combat homelessness, the City Council has recently authorized an application for $2 million in federal funds intended for the renovation of Hilda's Place, the homeless shelter located in the basement of Lake Street Church. This decision, which was finalized in a 6-2 vote on Monday evening, positions the city to revamp the shelter without tapping into local tax dollars, a strategy that is both economically judicious and socially responsible. Evanston RoundTable reports that Council Member Jonathan Nieuwsma referred to this pursuit of federal funding as a "no-brainer," given the financial reprieve it provides the city.
Hilda's Place, which was forced to transition to a daytime drop-in center due to the COVID-19 pandemic, could see substantial improvements with the federal allocation, including the installation of a new entryway, elevator, and bathrooms, as well as upgrades to existing utilities. This potential inflow of federal dollars harks back to the CARES Act and is specifically aimed at increasing the capacity of shelters to pre-pandemic levels. Despite the support, the resolution saw opposition from Council Members Krissie Harris and Clare Kelly, who cast the dissenting votes, as per the Chicago Tribune.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) administers these grants, with the eligibility confined to certain municipalities and counties that meet specific HUD requirements. Evanston, by lodging its application, is competing with other local cities such as Oak Park and Chicago, which are also vying for similar amounts to fund their respective homeless service projects. Although Council Member Krissie Harris pressed for a contingency plan from Connections for the Homeless, CEO Betty Bogg expressed confidence in securing the full amount requested. Bogg disclosed to Evanston RoundTable that missing out on the grant would result in a "very long hold" on the project.
If successful, Hilda's Place would become the permanent year-round location for Interfaith Action of Evanston's shelter operation, which is currently a seasonal rotating system. Interfaith Shelter Director Shawn Iles assured council members that they plan to cease the rotating setup in favor of the new, stable location. Adding to the dimension of local need, a study by the Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County, reported on by the Chicago Tribune, showed a 58% uptick in the unsheltered population since last year, further underscoring the imperative of shelters like Hilda's Place. With the application deadline set for July 29 and award announcements expected by November, Evanston is gearing up to address its housing concerns with a sense of urgency and pressing community need.
