Heartland Housed Presents Annual Homelessness Update

Josh Sabo presented an annual update on homelessness in Sangamon County to the County Board this month, outlining recent data, current conditions, and priorities for the coming year. Sabo serves as the executive director of Heartland HOUSED, the county’s lead organization coordinating homelessness response efforts.

Sabo explained that Heartland House was established following a communitywide strategic planning process that identified the need for a central organization to coordinate homelessness response efforts. The organization now serves as the county’s backbone agency, responsible for setting strategy, tracking outcomes, and identifying gaps in services.

According to data shared during the presentation, the number of people exiting homelessness in Sangamon County has increased over the past several years. In 2019, local programs helped 94 individuals exit homelessness. In 2025, that figure rose to 409. Sabo said the increase is largely tied to expanded housing programs that combine rental assistance with case management, allowing participants to access income supports, healthcare, and other services while transitioning into permanent housing.

At the same time, the total number of people accessing homelessness services has continued to grow. In 2019, just over 1,200 individuals interacted with the county’s homelessness system. By 2025, that number had increased to 1,772. Sabo attributed much of that growth to rising housing costs, noting that fair-market rental rates in Sangamon County have increased by approximately 48 percent since 2019.

Sabo also reviewed system-wide developments, including Sangamon County’s designation as one of 11 communities nationwide to reach “Quality Data” status through Community Solutions’ Built for Zero initiative. The designation reflects improvements in data accuracy and tracking. Over the past year, county data showed eight months in which more people exited homelessness than entered the system.

Street outreach capacity has expanded during the past year with the addition of two full-time and two part-time outreach staff. Those teams are currently working with 72 individuals who are unsheltered or intermittently sheltered. Sabo said outreach efforts often focus on individuals with significant mental-health or healthcare needs. He also highlighted the HCOC Connect app, which allows community members to submit reports that help outreach workers locate and engage individuals who may need services.

Sabo noted that the Heartland Connect mobile app was developed to improve communication between the public and outreach teams by allowing residents, businesses, and local officials to report concerns about individuals who may be experiencing homelessness. The app enables users to submit location-based reports that are routed directly to outreach staff, helping them respond more efficiently and connect individuals to available services. During the meeting, Chairman Andy Van Meter spoke positively about the app, noting its effectiveness and ease of use, and encouraged continued community awareness of the tool as part of the county’s broader homelessness response.

Looking ahead, Sabo outlined several initiatives planned for 2026, including a mid-point review of the county’s homelessness strategic plan, expanded coordination among healthcare providers to address complex care needs, and the completion of a youth homelessness needs assessment. He also discussed continued development of the Heartland Flexible Housing Pool, which raised more than $300,000 in 2025, and the Heartland Housing Helpline, which connects residents at risk of eviction with prevention resources.

“You do beautiful work. Keep up the great work. Thank you so much for all you do for this community,” said County Board Vice Chairman Tom Madonia. 

Sabo said the organization’s ongoing goals include increasing housing placements, strengthening prevention efforts, and reducing the number of people entering homelessness each year.