Kankakee council denies Fortitude’s conditional-use permit for proposed shelter at 970 East Court Street

The Kankakee City Council voted 12–0 on Sept. 15 to deny ordinance PB 2025-8-2, rejecting a conditional-use permit that would have allowed Fortitude Community Outreach to operate an emergency overnight shelter at 970 East Court Street.

Supporters filled the public-comment period to urge approval. Teresa Schultz, speaking as a family member of a former city employee, said the shelter would “help our city see fewer persons who are homeless on the streets” and asked the council to “support Fortitude by allowing them to help our city.” Claire McElroy, a Fortitude board member, told the council Fortitude has provided sheltering in Kankakee for six years and asked only to move operations into the building the organization purchased in March 2025. Jack Tyson, Fortitude’s board chairman, said the organization purchased the building at 970 Court Street on 03/27/2025 and described ongoing renovations and conversations with city staff.

State and nonprofit officials also spoke in favor. Colleen Mahoney, Assistant Director of the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness (Illinois Department of Human Services), said “DHS currently funds Fortitude through both the Emergency Solutions Grant and Transitional Housing” and offered state technical assistance and possible funding to support expanded daytime operations. Misty Chouinard, a critical-care nurse and longtime Fortitude volunteer, described provider collaboration that she said reversed net inflow into homelessness in Kankakee County between 2024 and 2025 and urged the council to grant the permit so the community could “build upon this momentum.”

Speakers also raised operational and safety details Fortitude would need to meet. Jerry Rutherford, chair of Fortitude’s property committee, said the group is planning for a sprinkler system and “cannot responsibly invest capital funds into a sprinkler system without being granted a conditional-use permit,” and asked the council to allow a grace period to complete required fire-safety work if the permit were approved. Sarah Tuttle and other presenters noted that planning staff had indicated a temporary-use or other permits may be required for some modes of sheltering and that a 24/7 facility would require additional staffing and services beyond the organization’s current day-service model.

Planning and zoning had recommended approval, with the committee voting 5–0 to forward its recommendation to the council. Despite that recommendation and the public testimony, the council heard a motion on the floor to deny the ordinance; the motion was seconded and the roll-call vote recorded 12 ayes to deny PB 2025-8-2. The mayor’s office confirmed the ordinance is therefore denied and no conditional-use permit will be issued tonight.

Supporters said denial leaves an immediate gap: Fortitude representatives told the council that without a permit granted for the site they would not operate an emergency overnight shelter this coming winter. Speakers urged the city to identify alternative options, including temporary permits, funding for required upgrades, or collaborative state support.

What happened next: Council proceeded with routine business for the evening, including approvals of event permits, CDBG public-service awards, motor-fuel-tax maintenance agreements and several ordinances; those votes are recorded separately.

Ending note: The record shows extensive public support for Fortitude from nonprofit partners, state officials and residents, but the council’s unanimous denial ends this permit request at least for now; Fortitude and supporters signaled they will need other options to provide emergency overnight shelter this winter.