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Southern Illinois homeless shelters get state grants

BY KURT ERICKSON, The Southern Springfield Bureau

Friday, October 3, 2008 1:22 PM CDT

SPRINGFIELD -- Although the amount of money is half of what the organization used to receive, Susan Metcalf of Good Samaritan Ministries in Carbondale says a federal grant announced Friday will help keep the homeless shelter's doors open.

''It's crucial to our operation,'' Metcalf said.

Good Samaritan is among nine organizations in southern Illinois receiving part of a $227,539 grant aimed at helping homeless individuals get back on their feet.

The money is part of a total of $2.5 million in Emergency Shelter Grants that are being distributed to similar agencies across the state.

Along with Good Samaritan, which is receiving $18,800, others in the region receiving money include: The Anna Bixby Women's Center, Harrisburg, $33,881; Cairo Women's Shelter, Cairo, $36,800; Christian Community Compassion Center, Harrisburg, $30,045; Egyptian Health Dept., Eldorado, $22,000; Guardian Family Service Center, Metropolis, $25,750; The Lighthouse Shelter, Marion, $37,471; The Women's Center, Carbondale, $10,000; and the Williamson Co. Family Crisis, Herrin, $12,792.

Funding for the program is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and distributed by the state.

Metcalf said the grants used to be larger. They help pay for the operation of the homeless programs, including the shelter, which operates at a capacity of 30 people.

''We cannot fit anymore people in our shelter,'' Metcalf said.

State officials say there are an estimated 47,697 homeless persons in Illinois. State-financed homeless prevention programs provided 2 million meals and 2 million nights of shelter to homeless persons last year.

The funding is designed to help improve the quality of existing emergency shelters for the homeless and help make available additional shelters.