Pioneer Center for Human Services plans info meetings on McHenry expansion

Pioneer Center for Human Services has planned two informational meetings to raise awareness about its desire to create a 24/7 homeless shelter in McHenry.

The shelter is planned in collaboration with The Chapel. The city of McHenry and state Sen. Craig Wilcox, R-McHenry, will co-host the meetings, according to a news release from Wilcox.

“The lack of services available to the homeless population in our community is an unfortunate reality, and I support the efforts of Pioneer Center to expand their services,” Wilcox said. “However, it is also important that we provide an opportunity to the people of the community to come and learn about this possible expansion.”

The facility would be at 1809 S. Route 31, near Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital and Pioneer Center’s main offices. The Chapel owns the building and will complete a build-out on a 6,000-square-foot portion of the building for Pioneer Center’s use.

McHenry County PADS operates an emergency shelter at its Kishwaukee Valley Road site in Woodstock, but the group wants to offer more beds to serve more people. The Woodstock site only can house 34 people a night, and local churches have stepped up in the past to offer additional space.

The proposed site could offer between 60 and 70 beds along with services such as showers, meals, lockers, mail service, laundry and phone assistance. Transportation and resource referrals also will be offered. Social service providers will be invited to offer on-site assistance.

Pioneer Center has applied for a $50,000 grant facilitated by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to help fund the project, which officials have said could cost a minimum of $300,000 in building costs, with annual operating expenses estimated at more than $800,000.

Wilcox will attend the public meetings to answer grant-related questions, according to the release.

“We are thrilled that the McHenry Chapel has risen to the occasion by offering a part of their building,” Pioneer Center co-CEO Sam Tenuto said. “We also are looking forward to speaking with members of the community about our plans and hearing any concerns they might have.”

Meetings will be at 2 and
6 p.m. Jan. 16 at Pioneer Center, 4031 Dayton St., McHenry.