URBANA, Ill. (Chambana Today) — In a major step toward addressing homelessness in the region, the City of Urbana has approved more than $2 million in funding for six local programs focused on housing, shelter, and support services for people experiencing homelessness.
The funding comes amid rising concerns about the growing number of unhoused individuals in Champaign County, with city leaders and service providers emphasizing the urgent need for expanded resources.
The newly approved funds will be distributed as follows:
- Champaign County Health Care Consumers – $130,000
- Hope Village – $1 million
- Emergency Family Shelter Comfort Corner – $175,000
- CARES & Bridge to Home programs – $200,000
- First Followers – $190,000
- C-U at Home – $320,000
Melissa Courtwright, executive director of C-U at Home, says their portion of the funding will play a critical role in completing a new mid-barrier shelter on Mattis Avenue.
Once completed, the new shelter will be able to house 16 men and 10 women, and will serve as a hub for all of C-U at Home’s programs. Courtwright said the facility is expected to open by early 2026, and the newly secured funding makes that timeline far more achievable.
Other organizations plan to use their funding to hire more case managers, support daily operations, and expand access to wraparound services like healthcare, mental health support, and job placement.
Local advocates and members of the Continuum of Service Providers to the Homeless (CSPH) applauded the city’s investment, calling it a critical move toward long-term, community-wide solutions.
