Peoria council approves stop-gap grants to support motel shelter and New Hope permanent housing

The Peoria City Council approved short-term funding measures to keep a motel-based shelter operating and to support New Hope Apartments, a permanent supportive housing effort run by Phoenix Community Development Services.

Council approved a grant of up to $70,000 to Phoenix Community Development Services to reimburse New Hope Apartments for operating shortfalls while federal or state rental-subsidy awards are delayed; the council was told the city will seek reimbursement from the awards once they are finalized. The motion to approve the Phoenix grant was moved by Council Member Allen and seconded by Council Member Gordon Young; the vote passed with one abstention (Council Member Riggenbach), who said his daughter had been appointed incoming executive director of Peoria Opportunities Foundation and abstained out of caution.

Separately, the council accepted a $204,872.50 award from the Heart of Illinois United Way and approved a matching grant to Lula NFP to reimburse hotel costs for unsheltered individuals while social-service partners work to place residents into long-term housing. Director Joe Doolin said the funds come from Continuum of Care grant flows administered by United Way and represent carryover funding the city can pass to Lula to extend motel operations through June 30 while service providers pursue placements. Council votes on the United Way items were unanimous.

Joe Doolin, Director of Community Development, described the arrangement as a temporary measure to avoid notices to residents and to give social-service agencies more time to place clients into housing when federal award timing has lagged. "The agreement with them will have when they do receive the grants ... we'll be reimbursed back for the $70,000," he said. On the motel project, Doolin said the city hopes to get 30 to 40 people into housing before the June 30 end date on the current funds but acknowledged some residents may remain and need further assistance.

Community advocate Keisha Bernard addressed the council during public comment, thanking the council and providing an open invitation to council members to visit the motel project. "There's nothing like firsthand experience to be able to report that back to your voters and constituents," she said.

Ending: The council approved the two short-term funding moves to keep housing services operating through the near term; staff said both grants are intended as stop-gap measures and that the city expects to be reimbursed or to deploy additional grant funds as federal and state awards are finalized.