By Liz Lape
PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – New Hope Apartments in Peoria closed its doors for the foreseeable future on Monday, leaving some residents without a place to stay.
The supportive housing facility, operated by Phoenix Community Development Services, had to close due to loss of federal funding. The building was home to more than 80 people as of last year.
LULA co-founder Kshe Bernard told 25 News that her organization and other outreach services in Peoria were able to find many of the residents a place to stay prior to the building closing.
She said about five to 15 people were left with nowhere to go but outside on the streets.
“Everyone really, really tried to find exit plans for everyone, and we have this huge shortage of housing,” Bernard said. “To be forced outside with no home in this weather because of funding cuts is a systemic failure.”
Bernard spent the day on Monday outside of the apartments, offering those without a place to stay packages of tents, warm clothing, sleeping bags, and more. The City of Peoria helped to store residents’ belongings for them while they continued to search for housing.
Bernard said city leaders have been working with groups like LULA to come up with more plans for housing in the city, but federal funding is uncertain, hindering those plans.
“Those are a couple of year buildouts,” she said. “We need some sort of transitional housing options for our people now.”
Bernard said she encourages people to give back with monetary donations and camping supply donations at this time.
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