The Plan

I. OPENING STATEMENT In 2001, in response to a mandate from Congress, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued direction for Continuum of Care’s nationwide to develop a local plan to end chronic homelessness. The Heartland Continuum of Care (Continuum), through its grant process to HUD, outlined its goals and objectives for assisting in ending chronic homelessness.

In August 2003, as a result of the growing and continuing problem of homelessness, not only nation-wide, but also within the City of Springfield, State of Illinois, Timothy J. Davlin, the Mayor of the City of Springfield, IL formed the Mayor’s Homeless Task Force (Task Force) to work in coordination with the Continuum.

One of the charges of the Task Force, in conjunction with the Continuum, is to develop a 10-year plan that will eliminate “chronic homelessness” within the City of Springfield. Chronic homelessness is defined by the Federal Inter-Agency Council on Homelessness as: “being disabled and either being chronically homeless for a year or more or having had at least four homeless episodes during three years”. Disabilities or conditions often include severe and persistent mental illness, severe and persistent alcohol and/or drug abuse problems and HIV/AIDS.

The Task Force fully supports the Continuum in its efforts, initiatives and strategies for addressing the homeless challenge in the City of Springfield. The Task Force supports the efforts of the City of Springfield in its efforts to address homelessness in the City of Springfield through its Consolidated Plan. The Task Force will ensure, through strategic planning sessions, that its efforts complement not only the Continuum and the City’s Consolidated Plan, but also other entities that provide services to individuals and families who are chronically homeless.

The mission statement of the Continuum is: “Collaborating together to plan, organize, deliver housing and services to meet the specific needs of people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.” The collaborative mission of the Continuum and the Task Force is to recommend and coordinate strategies to end chronic homelessness and to help secure resources to support the Continuum member organizations in their efforts to provide services to the homeless population.

The Continuum’s overall strategy to eliminate chronic homelessness is to secure enough permanent housing for the subpopulation of homeless individuals who meet HUD’s definition of chronically homeless. The Task Force on Homelessness will work in cooperation with the Continuum to achieve this goal.

II. GOAL & VISION

The goal is that within ten (10) years or by 2014, all individuals and families facing chronic homelessness in the City of Springfield will have access to a coordinated array of Endorsed by Continuum of Care and Homeless Task Force 4 housing options and support services that will enable them to secure and maintain decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing.