Ottawa homeless shelter reopens

After being closed for 111 days, the Ottawa homeless shelter at 1120 Canal St. reopened March 21.

The Ottawa Public Action to Deliver Shelter, or PADS, has served an additional 13 clients since reopening.

Ottawa clients were assisted at the Peru shelter during the closure, meaning those in need in the Ottawa area still received assistance, said Carol Alcorn, executive director of Illinois Valley PADS. She said, however, with the reopening of the Ottawa facility, it makes it easier for those clients to get to and from work, as well as other appointments.

“We are excited at the opportunity to go back and serve Ottawa,” Alcorn said.

Staffing issues led to consolidating services in Peru, Alcorn said. She said staffing now is suitable to continue services the rest of the season in Ottawa. The agency is focused now on training new staff members. She added she was proud of the PADS staff in Peru and volunteers and donors who helped keep the shelter moving forward when services were consolidated to one facility.

“They are all important in helping making us go,” she said.

Contact PADS at 815-433-1292 or email ottawapads@gmail.com to volunteer or contribute.

The PADS executive director said the agency is working with the city of Ottawa on the feasibility of building a new facility on the shelter’s current site at Canal Street. The shelter is housed in a 166-year-old building, serving more than 60 people under one roof with two bathrooms. Alcorn has expressed the need for a bigger facility to better serve clients. A proposed building on McKinley Road was denied this winter by both the city’s Plan Commission and City Council, but talks continue between city officials and PADS on an alternative, she said.

Alcorn said she is hopeful a plan can be put together to build on the shelter’s current site in the next two to three years.