Grundy Area Pads helped record the number of customers – Shaw Local

Grundy Area Pads helped last year that a record number of customers received sustainable living space. Since February 2024 it has helped to help self -sufficiency with self -sufficiency.

Phil Wardlow, Vice President of Grundy Area Pads Board, said that it means that 54 people in one year the previous high of 20 and the 38, who have completed self -sufficiency, come in the solar eclipse that they pay their rent, supply and food gas.

“I think it has a big impact on our community because you know that people have drawn from a homeless situation and are now safely accommodated and how everyone else can work in our community,” he said.

The rehousing program started in July 2018, and pads helped 125 people to get into their apartments. During this time, PADS was able to expand its employees with grant resources together with the help of the community.

Pads helps the unbeliever by working with local landlords to temporarily supply apartments and at the same time help the customer to reach a point where they can get themselves.

According to Wardlow, other organizations in the community were helpful, since pads have no specialist knowledge in everything, but the employees can refer those who seek help in the right direction.

Many different challenges

For many reasons, people become homeless, many of whom are not under their control.

“There is no biscuit failure approach,” said Wardlow. “You have to meet the customer where he is.”

Wardlow said that PADS number one is currently doing what the organization will do for Shelter for the next autumn.

Last year, Pads was able to work with the United Way of Grundy County to receive a grant for emergency and protection programs that are hotel rooms to ensure protection. This grant is no longer available.

“What we could really use is a method to find a method of finding a method in Grundy County in a homeless situation,” said Wardlow. “Otherwise we have to refer them to places such as day breaks or Morningstar.”

Daybreak and Morningstar Mission in Joliet offer emergency shelters and support. However, pads want to consider their customers to be better access in the community.

According to Wardlow, pads also want more landlords to work. It has 24 apartments it rents for customers and he said that another 24 would be wonderful.

However, it is a challenge to find so much additional apartment.

“There is a lack of available apartments everywhere in the nation,” said Wardlow.

“However, I really want the community to know that we have a few landlords who work very closely with us and they are wonderful. They offer apartments for our customers and receive them so that they are not exposed to the environment for this period, ”he said.

Financing uncertainty

Another challenge PADS is the potential for the Freeze of the Federal Finance of President Donald Trump, who is contested by the State of Illinois in court. Wardlow said there were three days when pads had no access to their subsidy dollars.

“We have some money that we can redistribute that we received for donations,” said Wardlow. “This is unrestricted, and that could have floated for a month … but we could not have survived two months while someone checked whether we still qualified for the grants.”

Wardlow said the first review process was already a major hurdle that lasts about a year. Grundy Area Pads had already had to prove why he needed the scholarship and was approved for it. Wardlow said it would not survive the two or three months that it would have needed for an additional review.

“We try to find a means to justify some means so that we can survive a three -month freezer, and finally we want to float for six months without having access to warranty,” said Wardlow. “We are not nearby at the moment.”

The organization is burdened, he said because there are employees with special training and skills that have to be paid. If you cannot be paid, you cannot be retained, and then pads would have to go through the screening more applicants and then train a new employee to do the same work.

As for the board, Wardlow said that the Grundy Area Pads Board was exclusively voluntarily, up to the point that nothing is spent on the board. The entire financing goes directly to Grundy Area Pads.

In order to support the mission of non -profit organizations, donations can be sent by check to Grundy Area Pads in the 1409 N. Division St., Morris, IL 60450. The office can be reached under number 815-942-3245 or visit Grundypads.org.