Peoria County health department to lead HUD Continuum of Care planning; board approves $100,000 for food insecurity and grant‑funded staff

The Peoria County Board voted unanimously to authorize the Peoria City/County Health Department to serve as planning lead for the Heart of Illinois Home for All Continuum of Care’s HUD NOFO process and approved funding measures to support that work and immediate food‑security grants.

Dr. Leslie McKnight, director of community health policy and planning for the Peoria City/County Health Department, told the board the planning grant tied to HUD’s Continuum of Care notice of funding opportunity supports coordination of local applications and project prioritization. The annual planning grant totals $167,179; because the process is mid‑fiscal year the board was asked to appropriate a prorated amount of roughly $83,000 for the remainder of FY2026. The department also requested one additional full‑time equivalent (FTE) to manage planning, communications and ADA compliance for the program; McKnight said the position would be primarily grant funded and would terminate when the grant ends.

Benjamin Brewer, president of the Board of Health, described the $100,000 appropriation for food insecurity as a "food‑to‑mouth" response to rising need: "this is food to mouth this is not about marketing," he said, urging immediate, direct supports to working households whose incomes do not stretch to meet basic needs.

Nicole Wilson, vice president of community investment at the Heart of Illinois United Way, explained that United Way will retain several Continuum functions — including the homeless management information system (HMIS) and coordinated entry grants — while transferring planning leadership to the health department. Wilson said United Way will remain a partner and that HUD awards for permanent and transitional housing are contracted directly between HUD and housing providers, not the county health department.

Board members sought additional packet detail and financial clarity. Member Linda E. Daley pressed for assurance that the FTE would end when the grant concludes; Benjamin Brewer said county policy provides for termination of grant‑funded positions when the funding ends. Member Steven B. Rieker requested more explicit grant‑funding language in future packet materials so the public can understand how grant costs, FICA and pension (IMRF) are handled. Member Brian Elsasser asked whether the arrangement will cost the county; Chair Rob Reneau and staff indicated the grant structure and partner matches should prevent direct county expenditures for these items.

Members voted unanimously to appropriate the planning grant funds and the $100,000 food‑security allocation and then unanimously approved the increase in grant‑funded health department FTEs.