State Awards $2 Million to Support Homelessness Efforts in Springfield

The State of Illinois has awarded $2 million in new funding to support homelessness prevention and permanent housing efforts in Springfield and the surrounding region. The investment comes through the Home Illinois grant program and will support local organizations working to rehouse individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

The funding will be used for permanent housing approaches, including supportive housing and rapid rehousing programs, which state officials say are designed to provide stability and reduce repeat homelessness. Local leaders said the investment builds on several years of coordinated work among service providers, local governments, and housing advocates.

State Senator Doris Turner said the funding reflects the state’s responsibility to help families find stability during times of housing insecurity. “With this funding, we are fulfilling our responsibility to help our neighbors stay housed and support our communities as they recover from the far-reaching effects of housing instability,” Turner said. “Every family in Illinois deserves a safe, secure place to call home, and this investment is essential to helping more families find stability, hope and a path forward.”

City officials said the funding strengthens Springfield’s ability to respond to homelessness through partnerships with state agencies and local nonprofits that work directly with unsheltered residents.“We are deeply grateful for the strong partnership with the State of Illinois, the Office of the Governor, the Illinois Department of Human Services, and Heartland Housed,” said Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher. “Their support and the State of Illinois’ investment in this work has made a meaningful, lasting impact on our ability to provide vital assistance to those experiencing homelessness in our community.”

County leaders said the investment also reinforces ongoing efforts across Sangamon County to expand rehousing opportunities and coordinate services. “As a community we are incredibly grateful to Governor Pritzker for his leadership in delivering substantial and consistent funding to strengthen our local efforts to rehouse the homeless,” said Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter.

Housing advocates noted that collaboration among providers has helped strengthen the local system of care, even as communities nationwide face increasing challenges related to housing instability. “Over the past three years, partners throughout Springfield and Sangamon County have worked tirelessly to improve our system of care to address homelessness and to increase opportunities for our neighbors to thrive in stable housing,” said Josh Sabo, executive director of Heartland Housed. “We continue to dream of making homelessness rare and brief in our community and State of Illinois support is helping us progress closer to that goal each month.”

State officials said the funding will support work already underway and help local organizations continue expanding access to permanent housing across Central Illinois.