Lake County accepted $2 million in state funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to support a fixed-site shelter in Waukegan, officials announced at the June 10 County Board meeting.

The appropriation was presented as part of a DCEO Urban Shelter Program award and a motion to accept the emergency appropriation was made by Member Parikh and seconded by Member Hewitt. County staff and board members described the award as part of a broader effort to expand shelter capacity and provide wraparound services to unhoused residents.

“We’re really excited that the DCEO has provided us $2,000,000 of their $15,000,000 in funding for a fixed shelter site in Waukegan in conjunction with PADS,” a board member said during the meeting, noting the grant traces to pandemic-era CARES Act initiatives and has been pressed forward to support local shelter capacity.

Members who serve on the PADS board stressed the program’s role in moving people from temporary shelter to permanent housing. “This appropriation represents an important paradigm shift in the way we view housing and homelessness,” a PADS board member who was on the dais said, adding that shelter plus wraparound services can help people exit homelessness and regain stability. That speaker abstained from the vote because of their PADS board membership.

Vice Chair Cunningham described recent examples of people who received immediate help through PADS and urged municipalities and board members to support siting and operations. Members also discussed the ongoing funding needs for local shelters and the county’s interest in partnering with municipalities to increase affordable housing and shelter capacity.

The roll call vote to accept the appropriation passed (recorded as unanimous among voting members present); no recorded nay votes were noted in the meeting minutes. The resolution authorizes appropriation of the $2,000,000 award and acceptance of the DCEO funds to support a fixed-site shelter in Waukegan; county staff said the funds would support operations and related services in partnership with PADS and local stakeholders.

Board members asked staff to continue working with municipal partners and nonprofit operators to identify sites and ensure the grant funds are used for shelter operations and related services. No additional county appropriation beyond the state award was approved at the meeting.