The City of Rockford Health and Human Services Department recently joined forces with partners from across Northern Illinois for the 100-day unsheltered challenge. This statewide initiative aimed to tackle the challenges associated with unsheltered homelessness.
The City of Rockford focused on understanding and helping individuals experiencing homelessness during this period. The challenge ran from February to May 21, and saw significant progress in housing individuals. In total, 28 people were provided with housing, including 13 individuals over the age of 50 and 21 with diagnosed disabilities.
Angie Walker, the Homeless Program Manager for the City of Rockford HHS department, emphasized the importance of continuing efforts even after the challenge has officially ended. “While different agencies have their own missions, our ultimate goal is to house individuals and get them off the streets,” she said. “The teamwork exhibited during this challenge was instrumental in making a positive impact on our community.”
Moving forward, the City of Rockford remains committed to addressing homelessness and providing support to those in need. The collaborative nature of this initiative highlights how important it is for agencies to work together towards a common goal, and how effective that can be in making a real difference in people’s lives.