In an 8-0 vote Tuesday night, the Champaign City Council approved the creation of a low-barrier homeless shelter at 119 E. University Ave. in Champaign. The Champaign City Council will be working with the city's Township on the project. This will be Champaign's first all-year-round shelter, helping those who are most vulnerable in the community.
"This is great news because we were scared to death that some of our people were gonna be left behind and stay out in the winter again," said Dan Davies, who is the founder of Canteen Run.
Caneen Run is a local organization, run by Dan and his wife Barb, that helps and feeds the homeless along.
The creation of the new year-round shelter will cost the city $3.9 million with the money coming out of Champaign's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund. The city will fund the shelter for two years, making it Champaign's first 24/7, 365-day shelter.
"For years we've been struggling to really get traction for a year-round shelter in champaign," said Champaign Township Supervisor Andrew Quarnstrom. "So this is a really significant piece of legislation and a lot of hard work has gone into something now that's really gonna show a lot of I think success over the next couple of years."
On top of the shelter being open year-round to those in need, it will also be a low-barrier shelter, meaning no questions asked when they need a place to stay.
"Effectively low-barrier means that we don't ask any questions when they come in," Quarnstrom said. "They can be intoxicated, they can be under the influence, they could be struggling with mental health issues and effectively we provide them with a warm-safe place."
Residents of the shelter will not be allowed to partake in drugs or alcohol once they are living at the shelter. The shelter will house up to 50 men and 10 women at full capacity, helping them get clean and back on their feet through medical, mental health, and social work services. Ultimately making Champaign a safer place for all.
"If we can help make a difference in these people's lives, and get them some help and get them some assistance, you know it's gonna reduce crime, it's gonna reduce all kinds of issues in my book," Davies said.
The shelter is planned to open on Nov. 1, 2022, with a two-year lease at the University Avenue location. The City of Champaign Township hopes to find a more permanent location and funding for the shelter by the end of the two years.