Township accepts $418,680 from Housing Authority to house residents exiting winter shelter

Cunningham Township trustees approved a resolution May 11 authorizing the supervisor to sign an agreement with the Housing Authority of Champaign County that secures $418,680 for transitional housing to help people exit the public winter emergency shelter.

The board voted on resolution T2026‑05‑007R after Supervisor Chenoweth described the temporary extension of the shelter at the old National Guard recruiting center on Park Street and the shortfall in state funding. "We have secured $418,680 in funds," Chenoweth said, adding the money "exclusively will go to transitional housing" for residents who have an exit strategy or some form of income.

Why it matters: Chenoweth told trustees the shelter’s occupancy permit will end and the facility must close at that location, so the township and partners are using housing authority dollars and other supports to move eligible people into semi‑independent transitional housing with intensive case management. She said about 20 of the roughly 40 people then in the shelter met the criteria for the housing authority‑funded moves; another set of residents are considered for low‑barrier shelter or supportive living where appropriate.

Chenoweth framed the funding as a short‑term bridge: "The housing authority dollars will last for about 10 months," she said, and cautioned that the assistance must be targeted to people who can maintain tenancy rather than be at high risk of eviction. She warned that some residents are medically fragile and will require medical respite or supportive living placements rather than the transitional model.

Board action and votes: Trustee Quisenberry moved the resolution; Mary Alice seconded. The clerk recorded a roll‑call vote of Yes from Trustee Wu, Trustee Evans, Trustee Hersey, Trustee Jones and Trustee Quisenberry; the chair announced the resolution passed.

What the resolution does and next steps: The agreement commits the township to accept and direct the funds for transitional housing placements and related case management; Chenoweth said the township and partners are prospecting locations and may use short hotel stays paid with housing authority dollars while placements are identified. The supervisor also invited the community to a countywide strategic plan release for homelessness services scheduled for June 29 at the I Hotel.

Context and limits: Chenoweth said the shelter was never full during the winter period and that much of the current shelter population has local ties and employment. She emphasized the funding is not a long‑term solution and urged broader community planning and increased permanent supportive housing supply to prevent longer stays in shelter.

The board did not take further amendments to the agreement at the meeting; Chenoweth said additional data and per‑capita comparisons across peer jurisdictions can be provided to trustees on request.