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United Way: county-funded navigator logged 1,968 connections; housing accounted for 44% of 2-1-1 calls
Summary
United Way executive director Mariah Vale reported the county-funded community navigator logged 1,968 connections and 479 referrals in its first full year; 2-1-1 data show 44% of Kankakee callers sought housing or shelter assistance.
Mariah Vale, executive director of United Way, presented updates on the Success by 6 Early Childhood Coalition and the county-funded community navigator at the Feb. 11 Kankakee County Board meeting.
Vale said the county’s ARPA investment in June 2023 helped create a community navigator role that logged 1,968 connections and 479 referrals in its first full year. She said that initial county investment helped United Way secure $125,000 in additional funding to grow the program.
Vale also described local usage of the 2-1-1 information and referral line, which the United Way helps fund locally: last year the line provided referrals for 2,198 residents in Kankakee and Iroquois counties, and for Kankakee County callers specifically, 44% of requests concerned housing, shelter or rent assistance. Vale said that pattern showed housing and shelter needs “head and shoulders” above other categories in recent years.
Why it matters: The data highlight housing and shelter as pressing needs in Kankakee County and show the county ARPA investment helped seed a navigator position that attracted additional outside funding. United Way provided resource directories, including a local “Can I Help” directory listing over 800 services for county residents.
Board response and context: Vale offered handouts and welcomed board members to follow up with United Way for more detailed data. No formal board motion was recorded in direct response to the presentation during the meeting.
Ending: United Way encouraged board members to use the referral and directory resources and to consider the housing needs data in future planning.
