PEORIA, Ill. – Dream Center Peoria will be getting a boost from the city to help house homeless couples and single women.
The city council Tuesday night unanimously approved a grant to reimburse Dream Center up to $105,000 to expand its capacity. The vote came after the council approved reimbursing Lula up to $80,000 through the end of February to house people from Peoria’s homeless encampments in hotels.
The move would expand capacity from 125 people to 175 by utilizing an additional floor in the Dream Center’s building. Dream Center’s Director of Homeless and Housing Kristy Schofield says they anticipate bringing in 25-40 more people.
The money would fund four case managers to assist people with medical needs, as well as guiding them to resources to get back on their feet. It would also cover administrative costs, security, and operations.
“These are human beings, they deserve dignity and compassion. And they deserve to be safe, and the opportunity to become self-sufficient,” Schofield said.
The initial agreement is for two months, with an option to extend it to a third month. Schofield says Dream Center’s goal at the end of the program is to house the people they take in. If they need it, she says the people can stay past the three months.
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