Planning board backs Gift of God shelter expansion, sets staffing and fire-safety conditions

Pastor James K. Smith told the planning board he seeks to expand the Gift of God Street Shelter from its current operations to a facility that could house roughly 40 guests by reconfiguring ground-floor space and adding transitional-housing units upstairs. "We are trying to extend the shelter facility from 22 to about 40 individuals," he said, explaining the need for paid staffing and grant funding to provide stable case management.

City staff and consultant testimony emphasized that transitional housing requires documented case management and permanent staffing distinct from emergency shelter operations. Stephanie Gibbs, a pro bono consultant working with the shelter, said transitional programs require intake assessments and multi-month case plans: "If they're there for 30 plus days, they can do an assessment and having funding for staff to provide those case managers who have the background to do those assessments." Gibbs said HUD and county funding streams exist but the operator needs grant-writing capacity and partnerships to secure them.

At the board's request staff clarified that the proposal was an amendment to the existing conditional-use permit (not a rezoning) and reviewed prior conditions (sprinkler installation temporarily authorized in 2022). Staff noted fire-code changes allow dormitory-style arrangements in some shelters but that final occupancy must be set by the fire department.

A board member moved to recommend approval subject to conditions requiring compliance with the Kankakee Fire Department, Kankakee County Health Department and code enforcement; a working fire-suppression system; final capacity as determined by the fire department; maximum 28 shelter beds downstairs and 12 transitional beds upstairs (separate single-gender apartments and a dividing wall); operational plans for funding, staffing and services on file with planning; a formal intake procedure including an alpha report from police; at least one staff member on-site overnight; no loitering and no acceptance of intoxicated guests; and screened dumpsters. The board voted to forward the recommendation to city council, which is scheduled to consider the item on Aug. 3.

The board and applicants discussed next steps: if the transitional program is not operational within a year the applicant will need to seek an extension from city council; if the use is operational and meets conditions it will continue without recurring annual review. The planning board's recommendation does not itself authorize occupancy changes; the final capacity and commencement of transitional services are contingent on fire-department approval and the applicant meeting the listed conditions.