Cunningham Township Board approves temporary nighttime winter shelter at Armory with state funding and community partners

Cunningham Township supervisors voted Nov. 17 to open a temporary nighttime winter shelter at the Armory, 109 East Park Street, approving a lease with Prometheus Partners and an MOU with nonprofit Friend and Me to staff and manage the site. Supervisor Danielle Chenoweth said the county counted and deduped 82 unsheltered residents on Nov. 4 and described the Armory as a turnkey location with showers, laundry capacity and space for quarantine sick bays.

Why it matters: Township leaders said the shelter aims to reduce dangerous exposure this winter by increasing available nighttime beds where existing shelters are full. The Board authorized short-term contracts and said state and local grants will cover most costs while the township coordinates with Strides and other providers to avoid service gaps.

What the board approved and how it will operate Supervisor Chenoweth described a nighttime-only soft launch at the Armory with partner organizations providing services and staffing. Key operational and partnership details the board recorded:

- Location and facilities: The Armory at 109 East Park Street (leased from Prometheus Partners) includes seven showers (one wheelchair-accessible), nine bathroom stalls, space for laundry and a configuration that Chenoweth said is well-suited for a shelter layout and sick bay/quarantine areas.

- Funding and costs: Chenoweth said the township requested a larger grant amount and received state funding: “I asked for 385 4000, and we got a 115,000,” (transcript). IDHS grant funds will cover the Armory expense; Chenoweth also said the city of Urbana will fund some daytime intake staff and that UC Friends Meeting pledged a $10,000 grant and a matching $10,000.

- Rent and term: The township will rent the Armory under a short-term lease; Chenoweth said the Armory rental is approximately $4,000 per month through April with the possibility of extending to June, subject to funding and permits.

- Partner roles: The board approved an MOU to contract Friend and Me to staff the site on an hourly reimbursement model. Chenoweth described Friend and Me’s model as community-driven and trauma-informed and cited their success operating prior pop-up shelters.

- Eligibility and referral process: For the Armory site, Chenoweth said the initial plan is for adult men and male-identified residents only; Strides will remain the all-gender low-barrier, walk-in intake location (24/7) and will supply a wait list that the Armory can tap into for male-identified participants. Chenoweth said the township has screened potential clients for registered sex offenders and will not accept those restricted by proximity at the Armory site.

- Operations and safety: The shelter will provide daily laundry, hot breakfasts, bus passes, connections to case management and health services, security cameras, and routine exterior security checks; supervisors emphasized written referral agreements with police and hospitals to avoid “drop-off” situations.

Board discussion and data collection Trustees asked about referrals outside township hours, gender inclusivity, and how this site fits into broader county shelter capacity. Chenoweth said Strides will continue to serve all genders and that the Armory is intended to relieve pressure on existing beds. She also said the township updated intake forms to capture migration and length-of-stay data (e.g., “When did you first come to Champaign County?”) so the shelter system can analyze local trends.

Next steps The board approved the Prometheus Partners lease and the MOU with Friend and Me and instructed staff to proceed with the planned soft launch and community open house. Chenoweth noted the township will monitor funding and may extend or terminate the leases with notice if conditions change. A neighborhood open house for the Armory site was announced for Friday from 4 to 5 p.m.

Quotes "We counted and deduped, as of November 4, 82 residents unsheltered," Supervisor Danielle Chenoweth said, framing the urgency for additional beds.

"This is a stop the bleed — I really want to get out of stop the bleed," Chenoweth said, describing the temporary nature of the site and the need for longer-term planning.

Ending The board voted unanimously to approve the lease and MOU; supervisors said the Armory operation will begin as a nighttime shelter and that township staff will continue coordinating with local municipalities and service providers to find sustainable longer-term solutions.