Oak Park board approves $1.33 million support agreement for expanded emergency shelter at 112 S. Humphrey

The Village Board of Oak Park voted to approve a funding agreement with Housing Forward to support operations of an expanded emergency shelter at 112 South Humphrey Avenue through December 2025.

The agreement, which the board approved by roll call, covers approximately $1,331,000 in operating costs for the Accolade site as it shifts from the current Saint Catherine–St. Lucie location to the new address. "The agreement covers those operating costs through December 2025," said Jonathan Birch, Assistant Village Manager and Neighborhood Services Director, during the presentation to the board.

Why it matters: Housing Forward says the move will double nightly capacity from 20 beds to 40 beds and prioritize 20 of the new beds for people who have recently lost housing in Oak Park, have a personal connection to Oak Park within the past 24 months, work in Oak Park, or are found unsheltered within village boundaries. "The 20 beds that we have the increased capacity for that will be designated to Oak Park would be able to cover all of our unsheltered Oak Park individuals and households at this time," Armando Smith, Chief Program Officer for Housing Forward, told the board, citing the agency’s most recent outreach data.

What the agreement covers: Housing Forward said the operating budget is primarily staffing, rent, utilities and other recurring costs, plus some one-time relocation expenses and hoteling for families in immediate need. Jonathan Birch said Cook County provided $250,000 in capital funding, so the village is not being asked to fund capital costs. The village funding request is for operating support.

Supply, demand and timing: Housing Forward reported that as of the most recent snapshot they had identified 18 clients in 13 households who were unsheltered in Oak Park and who were engaging with outreach services. Housing Forward also reported that the current average length of stay at the nightly shelter site (Saint Catherine–St. Lucie) is 49 days. The agency estimated permit submissions to the village on or about Feb. 18 and said a tentative opening window for the Humphrey site is mid- to late-April, subject to permitting and fit-out work.

Board questions and follow-up: Trustees pressed Housing Forward and village staff for clarity on data, definitions and downstream capacity. Board members asked how the additional 20 prioritized beds would affect wait lists and flow through the broader shelter and housing system, and whether housing placements that follow emergency shelter stays would be expedited or remain subject to existing prioritization. Housing Forward said the prioritized beds will open capacity for Oak Park residents to access nightly shelter when willing and able to be sheltered, but that movement into other transitional or permanent housing options would continue to follow coordinated-entry prioritization and program-specific rules. "Moving through our other shelter options, it won't necessarily move them up in the line," Rebecca (Housing Forward staff) said about transitions from emergency shelter into other program types.

Additional direction: Village staff and Housing Forward told the board they are working on finalizing the definition of a "personal connection" to Oak Park (the presentation referenced a 24-month lookback) and will return to the board with finalized eligibility language and additional program metrics. Staff also said they intend to convene a broader strategic conversation about related needs that the board raised on Dec. 3, including capacity and bottlenecks downstream of emergency shelter.

Community partnerships and prevention: Housing Forward described prevention, diversion and landlord engagement programs intended to reduce new entries into homelessness, and said it partners with roughly 200 landlords for housing placements and conducts outreach to increase landlord participation. The agency and village staff noted Cook County funding and local partnerships as part of a broader regional response.

Votes and implementation: The motion to approve the funding agreement was moved by Trustee Straub and seconded by Trustee Enya. The board approved the agreement by roll call vote. Village staff said Neighborhood Services will track and report metrics and that Housing Forward will prioritize Oak Park-connected households for the 20 reserved beds while allowing unused prioritized slots to be used by others so beds do not sit empty.

What’s next: Village staff and Housing Forward will finalize eligibility definitions and performance metrics before the shelter opens, continue permitting and fit-out work, and return to the board with broader recommendations to address downstream capacity and programmatic needs discussed at the Dec. 3 meeting.