News

Fostering Solutions: Improving Street Outreach and Housing Access

9/27/2024

Members of the Heartland Continuum of Care Street Outreach Task Group work regularly with individuals living in encampments, such as the one at 5th and North Grand. Their goal is to build relationships, connect people to services, and refer them to available resources. Outreach staff assist individuals in getting on the Coordinated Entry list, which is essential for accessing supportive housing opportunities. They also provide ongoing support until housing becomes available. While not always possible, the hope is to be able to deliver resources to where people are located and make the resources as accessible as possible.

Heartland Continuum of Care HUD CoCBuilds Local Competition Process Has Begun

9/18/2024

On July 19, 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for new permanent supporting housing projects under the CoCBuilds initiative (Federal Funding Opportunity: FR-6800-N-25A). To participate in national competitions for HUD CoCBuilds Project funds, Heartland Continuum of Care must hold a Local CoC Program Competition to evaluate and select one project to include in the CoC application to HUD. The maximum project amount for the Heartland Continuum of Care is $5,000,000. The HCoC can only submit one project to HUD for consideration.

Criminalization Doesn't Solve Homelessness

9/2/2024

“Criminalization doesn’t solve homelessness—it only makes it harder to escape.” Heartland Continuum of Care partners were surprised to learn Sunday morning of an ordinance on “Public Camping” that is slated for consideration for Emergency Passage at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Reading the first five clauses of the ordinance makes it clear that the ordinance is designed to target people experiencing homelessness with criminal penalties. The ordinance mirrors many that are emerging around the State of Illinois in recent months that are based on a model ordinance created by the Illinois Municipal League in response to the Supreme Court’s recent Grants Pass ruling.

Heartland HOUSED at City Council on Tuesday, August 20th

8/26/2024

Following the completion of our community-wide strategic plan to address homelessness, the City of Springfield, Sangamon County, and Capital Township all committed to fund Heartland HOUSED to be the backbone organization, leading the Heartland Continuum of Care, and helping to drive effective solutions to homelessness in our community. At Tuesday's City Council meeting, we got the opportunity to share about our work and answer questions from the Council.

Heartland HOUSED June/July Update

8/1/2024

In 2024, we are creating reports every two months to keep the community up to date on current efforts to improve the system of care available for folks experiencing homelessness.

100 Day Challenge Focused on Unsheltered Homelessness Results in Twenty-Nine People Entering Supportive Housing

7/17/2024

A recent Heartland Continuum of Care (HCoC) effort saw twenty-nine individuals with a history of unsheltered homelessness end their homelessness and enter supportive housing in 100 days. During this same time period a total of forty-five households exited homelessness and entered permanent housing supported by HCoC organizations.

Heartland HOUSED April/May Update

6/3/2024

In 2024, we are creating reports every two months to keep the community up to date on current efforts to improve the system of care available for folks experiencing homelessness.

Heartland HOUSED February/March 2024 Update

4/1/2024

In 2024, we are creating reports every two months to keep the community up to date on current efforts to improve the system of care available for folks experiencing homelessness.

Heartland HOUSED 2023 Annual Report

2/1/2024

Community support and collaboration led to exciting progress toward reaching the goals of Springfield & Sangamon County's 2022-2028 Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness. Our 2023 Annual Report uses the framework of the strategic plan to detail progress made.