Plans are in the works to provide Lula NFP with another $200,000 to continue operating its pop-up shelter for unhoused Peoria residents through June 30.
The United Way and Home For All Continuum of Care are working on a budget amendment related to a $1 million grant from the State of Illinois that would direct the $200,000 toward the Lula project.
“That grant is specifically supposed to be used to target homelessness issues in our community, the City of Peoria,” community development director Joe Dulin told the Peoria City Council during Tuesday’s two-hour meeting.
“Some money was specifically set aside to fund some initiative that came out of the 100-Day Challenge. The 100-Day challenge phase of the project is still ongoing, and the funds from the State of Illinois have to be spent by June 30. So because there's some additional funds left over there that have to be spent, we had conversations with the Continuum of Care and United Way about continuing this [temporary shelter] program through June 30.”
The potential expanded funding was discussed as the council considered a resolution approving a reimbursement to Lula of up to $39,000 to keep the temporary shelter running through March 28. That measure passed unanimously, with one absence.
“I know some of you have had reservations, and that's fair,” said Lula co-founder Kshe Bernard, noting the motel shelter is operating on donation and volunteer support since its initial $80,000 from the city ran out in late February.
“Peoria showed up; you guys showed up in the Peoria community, showed up for our most vulnerable residents.”
Dulin said the United Way proposal would have to go to its board for approval, likely next week, and then get the OK from the state’s Department of Human Services. He said an agreement between the city and the United Way would likely go before the city council at its next meeting.
Mayor Rita Ali said she reached out to Christine Haley, the state’s chief homelessness officer, to see if there was a path to getting more funding for the temporary shelter, and that conversation led to the updated plan.
“She got right on it, just within a short period of time, and she was keeping me updated day by day. She reached out to the Continuum of Care and the United Way and asked if they would be willing to take that $200,000, or some portion of it, and through a sub-grant opportunity pass that on to the city, so that the city could then continue to reimburse the Lula organization.”
Absent approval the amended state grant to United Way, the City of Peoria may consider tapping into its budgeted amount for homeless services to provide the $200,000. After previous allocations to Lula and to the Dream Center, the city still has about $600,000 available.
Ali said she and council member Tim Riggenbach have been working with the city staff “behind the scenes” to identify more long-term solutions to address Peoria’s unhoused population.
“We know this is a Band-Aid, temporary situation, but [we’re] really trying to identify potential alternatives, just like the rest of the partners are trying to help to identify some alternatives,” she said.
Tuesday’s approval was only unanimous because at-large council member John Kelly reversed his position following a “very long conversation” with Bernard to address his concerns. He said Peoria is a generous community with donations to address homelessness, and advocated for more mental health services for unhoused individuals.
“Then you get past that second phase, we need much more concentration on recovery housing,” said Kelly. “These are facilities where the people there are all trying to get over some of these difficulties, and supporting each other in that. And when one of them falls down — and they do — there are others to pull them back. Now this is down the road, but I think we cannot forget the potential that these folks have.”
Bernard said they had as many as 93 people utilize the shelter. The agreement approved Tuesday capped motel occupancy through the Lula program at the current number of clients, which Dulin said stands at 59. He said many of the former motel shelter clients have moved on to permanent supportive housing, other treatment facilities, or permanent shelters.
“I just want to set a clear expectation that the motel’s project continuing to June 30 is not going to solve homelessness in our community,” said Dulin. “It's going to be a continued effort forever to continue to explore best practices, explore all the different options that we can to continue to work on this issue.”
Bernard said Lula still has a big need for food donations to assist those who are staying in the shelter, as well as room supplies and personal hygiene items. She said people interested in assisting with those need can reach out through Lula’s Facebook page.
“The changes and positive outcomes are real and measurable,” Bernard said during public comments in reiterating her thanks to the council for its actions. “Now I'm going to go tell everyone at the motel that they're safe. We're going to celebrate.”
