Harbor House asks Manteno to consider $4-per-resident pledge toward $4.5 million shelter expansion
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Summary
Harbor House told the village board it must expand to meet demand, outlining a $4.5 million project funded by a $2 million DCEO grant, $500,000 in reserves and a $2 million capital campaign, and asked Manteno to consider a $4-per-resident contribution (about $37,240).
Harbor House told the Village of Manteno board on Monday that it is expanding its emergency shelter capacity and asked the village to consider a per-resident contribution toward a $4.5 million project.
Jenny Shane Wetter, a Harbor House representative, said the organization — which provides free and confidential services to survivors of domestic violence — is building a 12,000‑square‑foot facility that would add an expanded emergency shelter and confidential program space. She said the project is financed with a $2,000,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, $500,000 the organization is committing from reserves, and a $2,000,000 capital campaign that has raised about $1,500,000 so far.
The request to Manteno is based on a $4 per resident guideline recommended by Harbor House’s fundraising consultant; at that rate Harbor House estimated Manteno’s share at roughly $37,240. Shane Wetter said Harbor House answered more than 3,500 hotline calls last year, served about 600 survivors, and had to deny shelter requests 730 times during the most recent fiscal year because of space limits.
Mayor and trustees asked procedural questions and confirmed the village’s finance committee will discuss the request. Trustee comments at the meeting emphasized support for Harbor House’s work and the need to examine the village budget before committing funds.
Shane Wetter described operational details trustees had seen on a site visit and framed the project as urgent: she said expanded shelter capacity and confidential office space would reduce the number of survivors Harbor House must turn away and improve safety services coordinated with police and the county domestic‑violence task force.
The village administrator said the request will be brought to the finance committee for follow-up. No funding commitment was made at the meeting; trustees agreed to consider the request in committee and seek further budgetary detail before a decision.
