Champaign Township approves intergovernmental rapid-rehousing agreement, rental-assistance budget and Stride Center repairs

Champaign Township on June 10 approved three measures aimed at responding to an acute local housing and homelessness situation: an intergovernmental agreement with Cunningham Township to use rapid-rehousing funds, a contract for building repairs at the Stride Center (formerly Scribe), and a rental-assistance budget for fiscal 2026.

The measures passed unanimously, 8-0. The board voted to approve Resolution 2025-0601, authorizing an intergovernmental agreement with Cunningham Township to deploy rapid-rehousing funds; to award a contract (Resolution 2025-0602) for flooring work at the Stride Center to Tiles in Style, doing business as Taza Construction; and to authorize an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Champaign to provide rental-assistance funds for the township's FY26 program (Resolution 2025-0603).

Cunningham Township Supervisor Danielle Chenoweth told the township board that conditions at Champaign Park Apartments have driven the emergency response. "We do consider this a human rights crisis," Chenoweth said, describing what she called "deplorable conditions" at the complex: trash, flooding, no heat, interrupted water and power and multiple condemned buildings. She said the complex has "over 500 units" and that 29 buildings had been condemned as of May 21. Chenoweth said canvassing in March found contact with 23 residents representing 19 households in condemned units and that staff estimated "over 100 people" were living in abandoned buildings.

Chenoweth described services Cunningham Township is providing through a new CARES team (Cunningham Alternative Response and Emergency Solutions). Of the 19 households canvassed in condemned units, she said three were families with children; eight reported earned income; 12 reported no income; seven reported disabilities; two were seniors; three held vouchers; and six reported being impacted by gun violence. She said eight households had been approved for rapid rehousing and one family had already moved to Bristol Place; several others were being housed temporarily in hotels while placements were found.

Township supervisors and board members asked staff for clearer reporting on outcomes and use of funds. Board member Shannon asked whether the township could provide regular reports showing how many people were assisted and how much was paid per household. Township staff agreed to add those statistics to standard expenditure reports if the board wanted them.

The contract for Stride Center repairs drew discussion about contractor selection and labor. Township staff said the flooring bid had been on the board's radar for several months; earlier priorities (a generator and fencing) were deferred and funding was shifted to immediate service needs. Board members had requested union labor; staff said the contractor identified a local, union subcontractor and that the work would proceed in phases to avoid displacing residents.

Township staff also gave an update on the Stride Center's finances and operations during a presentation to the board. Staff said the center's projected cost to operate in the coming year was about $2.4 million; projected grant and other revenue they listed totaled roughly $2.52 million, including a City of Urbana HHI grant and an IDHS EHT grant of $238,500. Staff warned that about $1 million of the projected revenue in the coming year is from ARPA funds that are not permanent and urged continued grant-seeking and cross-jurisdictional coordination.

Board members and staff also discussed staffing and program needs at the shelter. Staff said the countywide outreach and shelter work was now being handled by the CARES team and that more case management and additional daytime staff would improve operations. Staff said they typically run five to six day-shift staff at the center and estimated two additional staff per shift would have a noticeable effect on capacity.

Votes and next steps: Resolution 2025-0601 (intergovernmental rapid-rehousing agreement) passed 8-0 on roll call. Resolution 2025-0602 (contract award to Tiles in Style/Taza Construction for Stride Center flooring) passed 8-0. Resolution 2025-0603 (intergovernmental agreement with the City of Champaign to provide rental-assistance funds for FY26) passed 8-0. Board members asked staff to provide updated monthly reports on rental-assistance spending and client counts and to return to the board with a grant-funding update.

The township board set its next meeting for July 8, 2025.