Rockford, Ill. - The City of Rockford Health and Human Services Department recently completed the 100-day unsheltered challenge in partnership with organizations across Northern Illinois. This unique initiative, spearheaded by the State of Illinois, aimed to tackle the issues surrounding unsheltered homelessness.
A Promising Start
The challenge kicked off in February and ran until May 21, during which the team successfully housed a total of 28 individuals. Among them, 13 were aged over 50, and 21 had a diagnosed disability. Angie Walker, the Homeless Program Manager at the City of Rockford HHS department, expressed the team's commitment to continuing their efforts beyond the challenge duration.
Long-Term Commitment
Walker emphasized that the conclusion of the challenge does not mark the end of their mission. The team remains dedicated to their goal of providing permanent housing solutions for the homeless population. Despite each agency having its own objectives, the collaborative spirit demonstrated throughout the challenge underscored a unified focus on securing housing for those in need.
A Unified Effort
In reflecting on the experience, Walker noted, "All the agencies have different missions, so we all have to do our own work and abide by our own missions. But, at the end of the day, we are all here for the same thing and that’s to get people housed and get people off the streets. So, coming together in this way really was a much better opportunity than I even thought it would be." The success of the 100-day unsheltered challenge serves as a testament to the impact of collaborative efforts in addressing homelessness.