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April 7, 2020
Lake County Board Approves Setting Aside $100,000 to Help Local Agencies That Provide Emergency Shelter
At its April 7 meeting, the Lake County Board voted to approve setting aside $100,000 of 2020 Video Gaming Revenue (VGR) grant funds in the event the money is needed to reimburse local agencies for emergency shelter expenses incurred because of the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds are normally used to fund behavioral health programs.
In Lake County, agencies like PADS Lake County and A Safe Place that provide services to the homeless and to victims of domestic violence normally provide shelter in group settings. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these types of arrangements would pose high risk to those clients. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued guidance that emergency shelter can and should be provided in non-congregate settings.
Local programs that offer emergency shelter have been shifting clients to hotels and motels, and relying on vouchers to cover the costs, which are rapidly mounting for these social service agencies.
“I’m proud that our board voted unanimously to set aside this money", said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. "It’s so important that we do what we can to help house our most vulnerable residents during this crisis.”
The board voted to reserve $100,000 in funds from video gaming revenue to supplement other federal and state funding, in the event that the magnitude of shelter needs exceeds the capacity of state, federal and other funds to cover the costs. If the funds are not needed, they can be reverted back to their original purpose. “Right now, we’re working to understand the magnitude of the total costs, and understand how state, federal and other funding resources will be able to cover that,” said Lake County Director of Planning and Development Eric Waggoner.
Homeless services needs are greater than they’ve been, and projections are that homeless needs will rise in the county due to so many people facing economic hardship. Waggoner said that PADS reports that it has double the number of clients that they would normally have in April.
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Contact
Arin Thrower Chief Communications Officer athrower@lakecountyil.gov 847-377-2154 ###
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