Home Sweet Home Ministries wants to build a shelter village — about 50 tiny sleeping cabins surrounding a community building to serve the homeless — on a site near the nonprofit’s Bloomington facility.
Proponents say these types of micro communities have found success in dozens of U.S. cities.
If approved, the estimated $2.5 million project would stand on property near Main Street and Oakland Avenue that’s owned by Connect Transit.
That property just south of downtown Bloomington once served as the public transit system's home base. But it relocated more than 15 years ago. These days, the agency leases the property to the City of Bloomington on a month-to-month basis.
“Connect Transit can be part of a solution to address unsheltered homelessness across our community” with this project, Home Sweet Home CEO Matt Burgess told the transit board, during its meeting on Tuesday.
His presentation was part of a request to allow the property to be used for such a shelter. Ideally, the cabins would be constructed this summer, and be ready before next winter, he said.
"We estimate the capital development costs will be around $2.5 million to really build this out," Burgess told WGLT after his presentation, adding compared to building another large shelter, it's very cost effective.
Burgess called it a public-private venture, noting the village likely will need about $1 million annually for operating costs.
His team plans to engage with private philanthropy, as well as various funding sources such as McLean County's mental health and public safety funds.
"Look this is a community-wide partnership. This is a community-wide issue," said Burgess.
The transit board made no decision on the proposal.
However, several board members, as well as Connect Transit’s managing director David Braun, voiced their support. Bloomington City Manager Jeff Jurgens, an ex-officio member of the board, told the board he supports the proposal, too, adding he didn't think the city would need to lease the property beyond April.
Burgess described the project as about 50 tiny sleeping cabins, surrounding a main building and featuring a landscaped area. The village would be fenced, with secure entry creating a gated community. Home Sweet Home would manage the facilities, with offices in the main building. That structure also would include showers, bathrooms, and laundry facilities.
The cabins wouldn't be complete tiny homes such as those found in many micro communities, but rather simply sleeping rooms. Each would have a bed, windows, doors with locks, and heating and air conditioning. Most would be for single occupancy; but a few could house two adults. It's anticipated to be a pet-friendly community, as well. Home Sweet Home would partner with social service agencies to provide support services.
This proposed micro community is "a temporary base for people to be able to make forward progress back to stability, back to permanent housing," said Burgess, noting most clients served by Home Sweet Home Ministries stay in the main shelter for days, or months.
This project would serve only adults, Burgess noted. However, his staff expects the new village to open up more space for families in its main facility.
Burgess said neighbors of the Oakland Avenue/Main Street property are supportive of the proposal, including the Eastview Christian Church center, the City of Bloomington Township supervisor’s office, and Bloomington Public Library.
Jurgens said Bloomington staff has looked into similar solutions. But, he's pleased a local nonprofit has stepped up to address the need.
“From my perspective the solutions that we have out there right now are not working. We have tent encampments throughout our community, and we need to find a better solution for those," individuals, he said, referring to existing camps in Bloomington and Normal.
“We are certainly supportive, from my standpoint, of a better solution — one that is fully staffed and secure. We think, that’s going to make a difference with this. This is absolutely not going to be a Tent City 2.0. Nobody wants that. We can’t have that again. Having this where people can actually get, you know, a secure roof over their heads and the help that they need is, we think going to be huge for our community.”
Braun told WGLT after the meeting, he expects to bring a formal proposal to the board for a vote next month.
WGLT unhoused documentary screens tonight
This month, WGLT launched Frozen and Forgotten, a multimedia series chronicling what it’s like to be unhoused in Bloomington-Normal during the cold winter months.
WGLT will screen its documentary of the same name at 6 p.m., Feb. 26 [tonight] in Community Room 2 of the Bloomington library, 205 E. Olive St. Immediately following will be a panel discussion with some of the organizations and unhoused people featured in the 30-minute film.
If you need a special accommodation to fully participate, contact WGLT at (309) 438-2255 or wglt@ilstu.edu. Please allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.
