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This month we would like to highlight two partners whose work in FY25 is worth revisiting.
Real Estate and Capital Readiness and Zoning and Land Use for Shelter
Did you miss IFF Real Estate Solutions Wednesday Webinar Series in May 2025? You are in luck! Please check out IFF’s YouTube Channel for a series of webinars tailored to emergency and transitional housing providers around feasibility, planning, budgeting, and developing your facility projects. Shelter operators in Illinois who is exploring or undergoing a facility project are invited to watch this series – new operators’ welcome! IFF’s Real Estate Solutions is here to support through the Illinois Homelessness, Education, and Technical Assistance Cetner. Reach out to Andie Linker, Project Manager via email at alinker@iff.org with any and all real estate and capital related questions or to schedule a follow up meeting.
Webinars
Re!nstitute Report on 100-Day Challenge Addressing Veteran Homelessness
"RE!NSTITUTE recently joined forces with the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness and local homeless response systems in DuPage, Whiteside, and Sangamon Counties as part of a 100-Day Challenge to address veteran homelessness.
Over the course of 100 days, these communities housed a total of 35 veterans, demonstrating the power of focused collaboration and innovation. As part of the initiative, they implemented a range of sustainable strategies, including a Landlord Fair tailored for veterans, the creation of a Veteran By-Name List (BNL) with dedicated case conferencing, comprehensive client resource guides, and a specialized landlord mitigation fund to support long-term housing stability."
Announcing the LEAP4Ward Leadership Development Information Session
LEAP4Ward is excited to announce the launch of their six-month leadership
development cohorts, designed specifically for People with Lived Experience (PLE) who are working in the fields of housing, homelessness, and re-entry. To provide greater access and opportunity, they will be hosting cohorts in both Chicago/Cook County and Springfield, Illinois.
These programs are structured to build essential leadership capabilities through two
specialized cohorts, each focusing on distinct, powerful themes:
● Leadership
● Leading with Authenticity
● Building Management Skills
● Supporting Self and Others
● Systems of Care
● Thriving Organizations
We invite you and your teams to attend an informational session to learn more about
the curriculum, cohort goals, and the application process. To learn more about
LEAP4Ward, visit our website at https://www.leap4wardconsulting.com/
Information Session Details:
● Date & Time: November 18, 2025, 11 AM to 12 PM
● Join the Info Session Here: Registration Link
Following the info session, LEAP4Ward will distribute a link to an Expression of Interest form for
all individuals who wish to be considered for a spot in one of the cohorts.
Opening Doors: A Practical Guide to Low Barrier Shelter Operations
We are grateful to the Illinois Shelter Alliance for its guidance, expertise, and endorsement of a Low Barrier Shelter Guidebook, called "Opening Doors: A Practical Guide to Low Barrier Shelter Operations" written and assembled by Project Mavens and High Ground Partners.
This guidebook asserts best practices while recognizing challenges and limitations of fidelity to the Low-Barrier model based on facility configuration or shelter population, and provides concrete examples and recommendations to help individual agencies strengthen their policies and procedures. The hope is that all shelter programs will evaluate their current practices and
integrate these low-barrier principles more deeply into their operations. The document contains a rich resource appendix with direct links to written materials, trainings and webinars across a full range of topics. It also has document templates for intake, assessment, and policies/procedures.
The Guidebook can be accessed here. Please email melissa@projectmavens.co or betsybenito@highgroundchi.com for questions or more information.
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