City to pilot iCare community hub in September to centralize services for low‑income residents

Monique Madison, community development manager for the city, presented a pilot plan to launch an "iCare" community hub intended to centralize multiple services for low- and moderate-income residents.

Madison said the hub is grounded in the recently completed Consolidated Plan for 2025–2029 and is intended to advance three of the plan’s goals: public services for low- and moderate-income and special-needs residents, affordable housing, and economic-development opportunities. The pilot would operate at the Sears Shelter at McPherson Park on a biweekly schedule from September through November 2025 and provide on-site access to housing help, job-readiness services, health and behavioral health information, legal aid and other coordinated supports.

The nut graf: the pilot aims to reduce service fragmentation by offering “one roof, many resources” — a coordinated client intake, hub navigators, partner liaisons and a steering committee — and to provide smaller nonprofits free access to a hosted client-intake system so they can register and track clients.

Madison said the city has convened more than 20 nonprofit, faith-based and government partners for the pilot and will provide a printed and digital resource guide and monthly coordination meetings for providers. Staff will host a centralized client-intake system “utilized by many of our larger, nonprofit partners,” and the presentation said the system will be provided at no cost to smaller nonprofits that join the hub.

Council members and staff praised the effort as a way to reduce duplication of services and to connect residents more directly with providers. Council members asked clarifying questions about the pilot’s scope and whether services would extend beyond city limits; Madison said the city would focus on city residents but would not refuse assistance if needed beyond the city where appropriate. Staff also noted a related community resource fair on Sept. 6.

Ending: Madison said the hub is a pilot and staff will gather data through November to evaluate impact and determine next steps and potential partners for expansion.