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Township supervisor reports strong rental-assistance outcomes and shelter activity; $81,000 grant for plan implementation
Summary
Supervisor Danielle told the Cunningham Township board that an 18-month review of its rental-assistance program covered 383 households across 87 landlords, showed a roughly 79.1% success rate, and highlighted winter shelter operations; she also reported a roughly $81,000 grant to support first-year implementation of the township's strategic plan to end homelessness.
Supervisor Danielle summarized an 18-month follow-up of Cunningham Township's rental-assistance work and recent homelessness-response operations.
Danielle said township staff contacted 87 landlords who were renting to 383 households that received rental assistance since January 2025 and reported a success rate of about 79.1 percent of households who had not been evicted and owed no balance. She told the board that 17 percent of households had been re-evicted after receiving rental assistance, roughly 3.2 percent of households owed a balance (transcript garbled on exact figure), and about 11.5 percent of landlord contacts produced no usable household data. "To have an 80% success rate of folks who have not been evicted and owe no balance since we gave them rental assistance is really impressive and important," Danielle said.
The supervisor credited the City of Urbana for contributing rental-assistance funds through American Rescue Plan and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars, and said a multiyear CDBG arrangement allows the township to augment assistance for Urbana residents only. Danielle explained program changes: the township can now provide security deposits and one to two months of rent, with a program maximum of up to four months depending on circumstances.
On shelter operations, Danielle reported the public winter emergency shelter ran from Nov. 23 through May 23, 2026, and supported 216 people identified as male during the season. The township selected a 100-bed capacity; the average census was about 65 and the peak census reached 82. She said roughly 70 percent of shelter guests had Medicaid, 38 percent reported a disability, and many residents were older adults and people with disabilities. Danielle noted that Steer Place reopening aided placements.
Danielle gave May placement details: 17 residents moved into transitional housing with vouchers and intensive case management funded through the housing authority; 14 were placed into short-term housing by the City of Champaign; six moved in with friends or family; two entered independent housing; and 11 left the shelter without a known plan. She thanked Dr. Regina Parnell and the City of Champaign for assistance with placements.
On planning, Danielle said the township is extending its strategic-plan work through the summer, with a draft expected in September after stakeholder feedback sessions. She reported the township had received a grant of about $81,000 to support first-year implementation and encouraged board engagement in the planning process.
Danielle also gave brief program updates: the township launched a third cohort of the Careers in Motion program for people experiencing homelessness (16 units filled) and has brought a digital navigation training in-house after a University of Illinois trainer departed.
The supervisor announced Cunningham Township had been awarded a "living room" grant that will provide crisis respite services 24/7/365; she said details will be released in a press release and to board members.
The board did not take formal action on the report; Danielle offered to answer questions and to share meeting and event details with trustees.
