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Hope Haven describes shelter capacity, services and funding needs to Decal Township board
Summary
Hope Haven told the Decal Township Board of Trustees it sheltered 236 distinct individuals in FY2025, averages about 55 people per night, and relies on a mix of federal, county and local funding; the presenter urged continued township support and reminded trustees human-services grant applications open July 1.
Susie Gistler, a licensed clinical professional counselor and Hope Haven therapist, told the Decal Township Board of Trustees on June 16 that her shelter’s programs serve hundreds of county residents and rely on multiple funding streams. Gistler said Hope Haven reported 236 distinct individuals received emergency shelter in fiscal year 2025 and that the shelter averages about 55 people per night.
Gistler summarized Hope Haven’s services and housing programs, including rapid rehousing subsidies with wraparound case management, two permanent-supportive housing projects and Dresser Court, a 26-unit one-bedroom facility owned by the housing authority where Hope Haven provides supportive services. She said the agency also manages a housing-first approach for people experiencing chronic homelessness and that its homeless-prevention program diverted seven households in the latest year.
The presentation outlined shelter capacity and rules. "Our men's side has 30 beds, our women's side is 10 beds, and our family dorm is 12 beds," Gistler said, adding the shelter frequently runs at capacity and maintains a wait list. She said the program requires residency in Decal County for general shelter referrals, that participants undergo sex-offender and warrant checks because minors live on-site, and that nonresidents are often referred to nearby shelters such as Rockford Rescue Mission and Aurora Rescue Mission.
Gistler described Hope Haven’s clinical and health partnerships: the Decal County Mental Health Board funds in-house clinical services, including Gistler’s therapy and a psychiatrist (Dr. Marquez), and she reported partnerships with Northwestern Medicine for screening and outreach that identified at least one case of diabetes. She said the organization also helps clients get vital documents (IDs, birth certificates, Social Security cards), assists with employment and disability benefit navigation, and provides some medication assistance through a local pharmacy partnership.
On funding, Gistler said Hope Haven received federal funding at times and was a CARES Act partner during the pandemic, though that funding no longer exists. She noted participation in HUD’s Continuum of Care for some programs. The presentation packet included past township support dating to 2008; the board was told early township support was $2,500 but the current annual township contribution level and the exact most-recent figure were not specified during the presentation.
Gistler closed by urging attention to housing affordability as the principal structural cause of homelessness. "The primary cause of homelessness is lack of truly affordable housing. It is not addiction," she said, and reminded trustees that human-services funding applications will be available July 1.
The board thanked the presenter and asked routine operational questions about coordination with other shelters and expansion constraints; Gistler said funding, staffing and zoning limit physical expansion and that referrals to nonresident-capable shelters are a common response when Hope Haven is full.
What happens next: the township’s human-services funding application cycle opens July 1, and trustees will consider Hope Haven’s application as part of the regular grants process.
