BEDS Plus Care Newsletter: May 26, 2021

Implementing lessons learned from COVID-19

BEDS Clinical Director Shannon Goold talks about lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. When the shelter-in-place order was issued in March 2020, BEDS shifted from rotating emergency overnight shelter to a consolidated shelter program.

BEDS served about 500 individuals during the pandemic, who had varying needs.

"We learned that this one-size-fits-all approach that we have executed and done so well with for so long doesn't necessarily fit everyone," Shannon said. "So we are taking those lessons to differ our approach moving forward and create lasting change for the folks who come to shelter."

Those lessons learned will be implemented in our planned Summit Service Center, which will provide up to 24 months of fixed site, interim housing for medically vulnerable homeless adults.

Click here to learn more about the Summit Service Center.

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Special Announcement: 2021 Illinois Rental Payment Program

The Illinois Housing Development Authority is accepting applications for the Illinois Rental Payment Program. The emergency rental assistance program is designed to support households in Illinois that are unable to pay rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants are eligible for up to 15 months of assistance. The grant can cover the past due rent from the previous 12 months and future rental assistance for the next three months, if deemed necessary. The maximum grant amount is $25,000.

Housing providers/landlords may initiate a joint application through June 7. Tenants may initiate their own application June 9-28.

To apply, please visit the application site at https://ilrpp.ihda.org

In Case You Missed It on Facebook

BEDS Bulletin! A bipartisan Senate bill would add new features, including signing bonuses for landlords, to the Housing Choice Vouchers program to try to lure property owners back into the fold. Each year between 2010 and 2016, about 10,000 property owners left the Housing Choice Vouchers program, known as Section 8, which helps low-income families, the elderly and disabled people rent homes from the private market. The Choice in Affordable Housing Act is filled with carrots for property owners who have fled the program in addition to straightforward cash benefits for others who decide to join. "Research shows that increasing families' access to high-opportunity areas is an important pathway to upward mobility," Harvard economist Raj Chetty said. "Making it easier for landlords to participate in the Housing Choice Voucher program is critical for increasing housing supply in opportunity rich areas and by way of this, supporting families' long-term success."

Support a local business and help BEDS clients at the same time! Beginning June 1, add $1 or more to your purchase and Jack & Pat's Old Fashioned Butcher Shop of Chicago Ridge will deliver much-needed food donations to BEDS clients in the community. The Rotary Club of Moraine Valley will match donations up to $500!

Thankful Thursday! A warm thank you to the La Grange Highlands Woman's Club Benevolence Committee. The committee recently presented BEDS with a monetary donations to help us in our mission. Thank you!

We are in need of volunteers to help with our Food Rescue program in the mornings and on Thursday when food boxes are delivered to clients. If you would like to volunteer or for more information, please contact Sue Dever at dever@beds-plus.org. For more information about BEDS, go to www.beds-plus.org.