Township supervisor outlines homelessness progress and warns of shelter funding cliff
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Summary
Supervisor Danielle Chenoweth told the Cunningham Township board on April 13 that family shelter wait lists have shrunk but emergency-shelter funding and capacity remain tenuous; she described grant efforts, a proposed peer "living room" program and a planned May 23 shelter funding/occupancy deadline.
Supervisor Danielle Chenoweth reported to the Cunningham Township board on April 13 that the township has made measurable progress on family placements but faces precarious funding and capacity for low‑barrier shelter operations.
Chenoweth said the family-priority wait list had fallen to two households as of the meeting, down from three in the packet dated April 8, and credited expanded housing authority dollars that doubled family-shelter capacity. She said seven shelter residents were permanently housed in March and that coordinated housing navigation was helping families stabilize through summer placements.
Why it matters: Chenoweth warned the board that funding for the nightly winter emergency shelter is short-term and the occupancy permit and current funding end on May 23, at which point staff plan for a closure unless additional funds are secured. She said the township cannot guarantee operating a low‑barrier shelter next winter without broader support from the city, county and local partners.
Chenoweth reviewed recent service statistics and program activity: the supervisor's office received 1,662 incoming calls in March (highest since November) and street outreach served 30 people in March, down from 35 the previous month. The township is fiscal agent for a Continuum grant of just over $80,000 connected to the strategic plan to end homelessness; drafts of the strategic plan are expected in May–June with a launch in late June or early July.
On programs and grants, Chenoweth described the Careers in Motion workforce program — quarterly cohorts providing job readiness, one‑on‑one coaching and a minimum‑wage stipend for participants working at least 20 hours per week — and said the township has applied for ICJIF funds of about $143,000 to expand participation from the current cohort size to 25. She also said the township applied for a state "living room" grant described in the meeting as $1,400,000 per year for three years to support a peer‑led respite model; Chenoweth called that level of funding a potential game changer but acknowledged the township’s shelter census (peaks up to 82) currently far exceed the pilot program’s 16‑slot model.
On policy, Chenoweth said the township will present a delegation resolution at the annual town meeting that would authorize the township board to act on purchases, sales and leases of property so staff need not call special electorate meetings. She also said an advisory question will be on the November ballot asking whether Illinois should repeal recent amendments to the Illinois pension code that penalize businesses for boycotting the state of Israel; Chenoweth emphasized the question is advisory only.
Board members asked for additional budget and program detail ahead of the next meeting. Chenoweth offered to prepare a memo outlining budget implications for winter shelter and alternative-response options and to provide grant-agreement details and metrics when awards are finalized.
The township adjourned and the city council regular meeting began later the same evening.
