[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6204762,"mediaKeyId","3778233-4744edae40cc952fef86b4d2f644a04c","parentId",3778233,"title","Elgin officials report early housing and health gains from Lexington Inn pilot; council hears funding, service challenges","audioSeconds",1933,"startMs",605000,"endMs",2538000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778233-4744edae40cc952fef86b4d2f644a04c&start=605&end=2538","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778233-4744edae40cc952fef86b4d2f644a04c/thumbnail_605000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6204762/Elgin/Cook-County/Illinois/Elgin-officials-report-early-housing-and-health-gains-from-Lexington-Inn-pilot-council-hears-funding-service-challenges","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204762-487b65751fbbc69720156379eb1e4f6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203180&Signature=QKvm73~7KpH3mbTsAVEj1XpOurkKiDo4QNTuH~UjRZphD33vSX66HjcGYgAfKe8Fwwl3MvHK~~X-n4ZbKHCbBfoly2ei3OUJWlKk90jpyiV0S4i8iLWfMLq7gchAgUpWxS3t348N3eCtIBxnXGnIoFiDm1wp5XQjWEZVftoahGt5wa1SNjT2e7ubhkUc2~5tqTVqqwmxKxajxw8h84pRotlhZk5olpKlyZA06dM~LYJiHDnj4n68tZu1kOawdlwQulqYFiY~oN-tNtlPCPDAOdh3N1KU0sz0rfe1atte9beD30LnNn4HYJTvle3ObLR0zlOBJXvfpZPUB6iesOeABg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Elgin, IL","date","2025-06-11T15:36:41Z","article","Elgin city staff and nonprofit partners on Wednesday updated the City Council on a six‑month pilot that moved residents from a local Tent City into temporary rooms at the Lexington Inn and Suites and provided case management and behavioral health services.

\"This project has truly assisted with closing the mortality gap for those who have experienced unsheltered homelessness with evidence based housing models,\" said Deidra Trout, director of behavioral health services for the Association for Individual Development (AID), during the presentation.

The update, presented by Jenna Henson (homelessness response coordinator, City of Elgin) and Deidra Trout (AID), described a coordinated relocation that moved 42 people into the hotel after fires at Tent City. City staff said multiple departments and local nonprofits supplied food, outreach and on‑site supports during the move. Assistant City Manager Karina Nava noted the city created a full‑time homelessness response position and credited partners including AID, Food for Greater Elgin, Elgin Cooperative Ministries and Elgin Township.

Program outcomes cited by AID staff included: 26 participants receiving sheltered supportive living case management, outreach to 13 unsheltered individuals, two participants moving into permanent supportive housing (one to Wildwood Commons and one to a nursing facility), and four clients pulled from the Statewide Referral Network into housing opportunities. \"No one has required psychiatric hospitalization since intake into this program,\" Deidra Trout said.

Council members pressed staff on funding, safety and barriers to long‑term housing. Council member Ortiz asked whether the pilot prioritized Tent City residents and Elgin residents; staff said both priorities were applied. Ortiz also asked about state support; Assistant City Manager Karina Nava said the city and AID are pursuing additional grant funding and that a state representative had helped secure more funds.

Council member Powell asked about employment among participants. Henson said an HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) extract at entry showed eight participants with earned income and 34 with no income; staff added that three clients have gained income or employment since entering sheltered living. Staff explained many participants are pursuing Social Security disability and that SOAR‑certified case managers and disability advocates have been engaged to fast‑track applications.

On safety and calls for service, city staff said they do not yet have full analytics but that private security contracted to the site has reported no major issues and maintains close communication with case managers. Henson said, \"They know the clients as if they were case managers now.\"

Speakers and council members also discussed practical barriers: transportation is handled through Pace cards and case manager drives; food access was initially slow but has since stabilized because of community volunteers and weekly deliveries from Food for Greater Elgin; and shelter capacity in the city remains limited. City staff said there are fewer than 50 shelter beds available in Elgin and none are available on demand.

Public commenters raised related concerns. Marcia Rodriguez, who signed up on the agenda to speak, criticized site selection and said a community organization had not been informed of the shelter until after placements began; she also raised questions about selective enforcement and information access under FOIA.

City leaders framed the pilot as an early success that improves access to the formal housing system: staff noted that placing people in sheltered living allowed enrollment in coordinated entry systems and the Statewide Referral Network, which led to several placements in subsidized units. City and AID representatives said the pilot continues to rely on multiple funding sources and that additional grant awards have been used to extend the hotel stay into the fall.

The council did not take formal action on the pilot during the meeting; members thanked staff and AID for the work and asked for follow‑up data about calls for service, funding drawdown order, and program exit timelines.

Ending: Council members encouraged continued outreach to landlords and partners and asked staff to return with more detailed metrics and financial timelines so the council can evaluate extension or scaling options.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee of the Whole and Regular City Council Meeting - June 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Elgin city staff and AID reported that 42 people were moved into a temporary hotel shelter after fires at Tent City and that the pilot has connected dozens to case management, housing lists and supportive services, though council members pressed for more data on funding, security and long‑term housing.","taxTitle","Elgin, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",2637,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6204752,"Council approves Highland Woods 2025 resurfacing using Motor Fuel Tax and Rebuild Illinois funds",746,2540000,3286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778233-4744edae40cc952fef86b4d2f644a04c&start=2540&end=3286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778233-4744edae40cc952fef86b4d2f644a04c/thumbnail_2540000.jpg","/articles/6204752/Elgin/Cook-County/Illinois/Council-approves-Highland-Woods-2025-resurfacing-using-Motor-Fuel-Tax-and-Rebuild-Illinois-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204752-067fb9f61d50aef64b5ad1ae23de3314/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203180&Signature=YXPM9W~iZgH9LQhooTUYEcsfCAUIy5NAoY2aQbd~UfmMyYMQDKg08Uzr4iVu7rpSTqu~Dgk~KZyEqZBpIbNyDeKrhnPmoHDzEwNsLbHkDw6gHVL2zOq2CdpshVkOB0IW5dp3v9ZFjpj7WYPRZh1-2BBgk7mOGwvtWR0tRhak94~DMvg5UQpWOnflafOCrIEbnmu47e~iJPR0W9WFwMxUbCG7GDeGqE3U4BASMQWjWYlKcvnxNxjPiYpvD~JTNgaAeYRkMQfV3TkbzpTepM-WIz6w8pJPMQuvZAN~yMWs3-aU1p78ZQmTBjmhyRCumFwab3xwQzKbOI-OTSBB-4MoQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council on Wednesday approved resolutions under the Illinois Highway Code to fund the 2025 Highland Woods resurfacing project, using a combination of Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) and Rebuild Illinois (RBI) funds.

Public Services Director Mike Pubins explained the city used a Federal Highway Administration‑derived pavement evaluation (Micropaver) and a pavement condition index to rank streets and group adjacent blocks into cost‑efficient resurfacing contracts. He said Highland Woods Boulevard and Peregrine Way were prioritized because parts of the corridor and nearby streets were in deteriorated condition and could be grouped into a single contract to reduce mobilization costs.

Pubins described a practical rule the department follows: if underground water, sewer or other infrastructure work is anticipated in a street within roughly five years, the city will generally delay resurfacing to avoid repaving before subsurface work. He cited Walnut Avenue as an example of a street held for future underground work.

City staff said three contracts will be issued this year for the city paving program and that Highland Woods was chosen now so the project could meet an IDOT appropriation deadline for Rebuild Illinois funds. The council voted to approve the resolutions; the motion passed unanimously.

Ending: Staff said Pavement Condition Index data will likely be refreshed after the next inventory cycle and that council will see additional resurfacing contracts focused on other neighborhoods in the city’s multi‑year road program.","Council approved two resolutions to fund the Highland Woods 2025 resurfacing project, combining Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) and Rebuild Illinois (RBI) funds. Public services staff explained selection criteria, pavement condition indexing and coordination with underground utility plans.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6204757,"Council approves three‑year agreement with Explore Elgin Area to boost tourism and tournament sales",3632,6598000,10230000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778233-4744edae40cc952fef86b4d2f644a04c&start=6598&end=10230","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778233-4744edae40cc952fef86b4d2f644a04c/thumbnail_6598000.jpg","/articles/6204757/Elgin/Cook-County/Illinois/Council-approves-threeyear-agreement-with-Explore-Elgin-Area-to-boost-tourism-and-tournament-sales","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204757-faf55249b239ca067ebe3f03c750d6fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203180&Signature=SHo1Y0XNY0XWamr4QgzWeBfMKe5-eK4kY0~zJh-UHlOe8MTUEbqMlJ~CQKmLvGbblm3ccJx8~-NwFZB5ZBenx27z9uI7NMhM5hKMLF2vEeRgERQploE6KmkYSPtMCbcUnd0RSMJWZGBFDLUimrItuz~dvOrXnZGpgtG5LCDVajrWvezPYMEKIsjKyaeqt-LATrvq2iuE3~uol9o-6L3B39Mh3bezAbCfeGN4zaNEipo58neKXIdMEesPJJphHBvi0SFD27uJX2yvS3aTjvJd1F4BOFFuNWrbFmEOoJdbkYVxf8j49OU4bTrz36Ge-szGEUONZBzZdexO~EdP2Bpg4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Elgin City Council on Wednesday approved a three‑year purchase of services agreement with Explore Elgin Area, the region’s certified convention and visitors bureau, after a presentation that highlighted marketing metrics, grant awards and sports‑event sales.

\"Explore Elgin Area is our community's direct conduit to crucial state funding through the Local Tourism and Convention Bureau grant program,\" said Liz Marsden, board chair and museum director, explaining why a certified CVB is necessary for access to state hotel tax funds.

Chrissie Lee Murphy, president and CEO of Explore Elgin Area (EACVB), told the council the organization had nearly 500,000 website page views in the last year and distributed more than 7,600 visitor guides. The bureau said it has pursued additional grant funding — including a multi‑year data contract — to target advertising and measure visitor origin and ad impact.

Holiday Inn sales manager Lydia Caldani and Explore Elgin sales manager Ryan Cortez summarized how EACVB supports hotel sales: the bureau pre‑qualifies leads at national trade shows, distributes them to hotel partners and often attends events on site to support visitors and visiting teams. Cortez said those efforts helped win events including a collegiate men's volleyball national championship hosted by Judson University and the Deep Dish Classic hockey tournament.

Council members asked about governance, regional membership and data. Murphy said Explore Elgin serves 11 communities but receives its largest funding from Elgin's hotel tax and emphasized that annual recertification to the Illinois Department of Commerce is required for continued access to Local Tourism and Convention Bureau (LTCB) grant funds. On data, the bureau described a contract with Datify to track visitor origin and the results of targeted ad campaigns; staff said some analytics (Datify advertising) are costly and will be used selectively.

The council voted to approve the three‑year agreement by recorded roll call; the motion passed with eight yes votes and one abstention.

Ending: Council members complimented EACVB's transparency and grant success and asked staff and the bureau to continue pursuing data tools to quantify economic impact from tournaments and events. The city asked for follow‑up reporting on measurable hotel room nights and local economic return tied to major events.","The City Council approved a three‑year purchase of services agreement with Explore Elgin Area (EACVB) to continue tourism marketing, sports tournament sales and grant‑funded advertising. The bureau reported increased website traffic, earned grants and active hotel partnerships.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Elgin officials report early housing and health gains from Lexington Inn pilot; council hears funding, service challenges

Council approves Highland Woods 2025 resurfacing using Motor Fuel Tax and Rebuild Illinois funds

Council approves three‑year agreement with Explore Elgin Area to boost tourism and tournament sales