PADS asks DuPage County for $342,090 to expand winter sheltering; board signals support
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Summary
PADS requested $342,090 — including $173,990 from the county — to cover hotel rooms and extended access-center hours for the upcoming winter; members indicated support and suggested using ARPA interest or affordable housing funds.
PADS, a DuPage County homelessness service provider, asked the county finance committee on Nov. 12 to fund emergency winter sheltering and extended access‑center hours.
April Redzik, PADS executive, said the organization helped 155 people with hotel rooms last winter and requested a county contribution of $173,990 to match $150,000 recently announced by the state and $20,000 from a private donor, for a total program budget of $342,090. "They are alive and well because of you," Redzik told the committee when describing last year’s hoteling effort.
Redzik asked the board to consider ARPA interest funds and the county’s affordable housing buckets as potential sources; county staff confirmed approximately $344,000 remained in ARPA interest. Members from across the board voiced support for the request and suggested coordinating with municipal partners, nonprofits and service clubs to amplify funding and capacity.
Several board members noted this is a short‑term, winter‑season intervention and urged longer‑term planning to reduce homelessness. The committee did not take a formal roll‑call appropriation vote at the meeting; the chair said staff would prepare an item for a future meeting and that PADS could act to begin operations if the board indicated consensus.
Members praised PADS’ work and urged staff to return with formal appropriation language and recommended funding sources for the program.
