Speaking to a packed viewers within the parlor of the Margarita Inn, Pastor Monté Dillard recalled that in March 2020, Connections for the Homeless was getting ready to host a “milestone event” at his church, the First Church of God at 1524 Simpson St.
Dillard, who serves as president of Connection’s board of administrators, mentioned the onset of the pandemic compelled them to cancel the occasion on the final minute. The very subsequent week, the nonprofit service supplier started transferring homeless residents into lodge rooms on the Margarita Inn, 1566 Oak Ave., and managing the building as a non-congregate shelter.
“At that time, we did not know what a positive impact that this would have on the residents, nor how big an impact this would have on the agency as a whole,” Dillard mentioned. “Now here we are, nearly four years [later] exactly, and we celebrate Connections’ purchase of this beautiful old building, and we are bringing it back to its roots.”
Connections employees welcomed residents and public officials contained in the lodge-based mostly homeless shelter for an open home Tuesday afternoon to celebrate their accomplished purchase of the previous lodge two months prior. Nearly 200 individuals signed up to attend the open home earlier than RSVPs had been closed, in accordance to a media advisory from Director of Communications Eric Ruder.
Hoping for 20 extra years
Attendees had been inspired to comply with a self-guided tour across the shelter’s basement and first flooring. This included a presently vacant bed room, a small library used for remedy periods, a recently expanded medical office and the industrial kitchen as soon as utilized by beloved Italian restaurant Va Pensiero till its closure in 2010.
The medical companies had been particularly essential for Jelani Davis, a former Inn resident who spoke in the course of the open home’s remarks interval. He mentioned he grew to become homeless after being identified with congestive coronary heart failure, however was in a position to safe a spot on a transplant ready listing with the assistance of Medical Director Dr. Keith Boyd after he moved into the Inn in November.
“This place, Connections, has really, really been a big difference in my life,” Davis mentioned. “And hopefully, if everything goes well, I’ll have an additional 20 more years [of life].”
While introducing him, Dillard shared that Davis had moved out of the Inn the prior weekend after signing a lease for his personal residence, drawing applause and cheers from the group.
The open home was held simply in need of two years after Connections filed its application for a special use permit to completely function the Inn as a homeless shelter in February 2022, formally kicking off town approval course of. It would take round 15 months for the appliance to work its method by way of group conferences, public hearings and emergency lawsuits to lastly attain a 6-2 approval vote by City Council in May 2023.
Speaking on the open home Tuesday, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle thanked Connections for its effort in establishing the shelter completely, in addition to Mayor Daniel Biss and council members for supporting the shelter in the course of the approval course of. She mentioned she sympathized with the extraordinary criticism elected officials obtained for his or her help, drawing on her personal prior expertise in Chicago’s City Council.
“I was an alderman, I know that when you support projects like this, you get your butt kicked,” Preckwinkle mentioned. “So I really appreciate that you were willing to stand up and do the right thing.”
Cook County supported Connections’ purchase of the Inn with a $7 million curiosity-free mortgage utilizing federal pandemic reduction funds.
Moving ahead
With the Inn bought, Connections is popping its consideration inward to develop its personal buildings, whereas nonetheless trying outward by way of public coverage and advocacy work.
The nonprofit continues to increase funds for its $23 million capital marketing campaign; in early February, Chief Development Officer Nia Tavoularis informed the RoundTable the marketing campaign was round 70% funded. She mentioned these funds embody Cook County’s mortgage to help the Inn’s purchase, in addition to funding for renovations of the Inn and different buildings and growing and increasing Connections’ employees and programming.
For the Inn itself, this work consists of upgrading the one growing old elevator, rehabilitating frequent areas just like the parlor and library and overhauling the presently unusable industrial kitchen to allow cooking meals in-home. The Hilda’s Place drop-in middle at Lake Street Church can also be in want of main rehabilitation earlier than it will probably reopen, and partially supported by $2 million in federal funds secured by U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-ninth District).
Externally, Connections can also be targeted on housing coverage advocacy, each in Evanston and throughout Illinois. One of the rooms of the guided tour showcased the group’s number of present efforts, together with adopting a “just cause for eviction” ordinance in Evanston and banning so-referred to as “crime-free housing ordinances” statewide.
Also wrapping up is the equitable zoning project performed by Connections advocacy arm Joining Forces for Affordable Housing. Director of Advocacy Sue Loellbach informed the RoundTable the research’s ultimate report will probably be launched in March, and shall be submitted as enter for town’s total overhaul of its zoning code and comprehensive plan.