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Everyone deserves a home
[FEB. 7, 2003]
The Salvation Army
motto, "Everyone deserves a home," is a motto that is coming closer
to reality in Lincoln. The fund-raising campaign that began on May
24, 2002, to build a new transitional shelter has reached 47 percent
of its goal of $700,000, local Salvation Army director Curtis
Sutterfield stated in a news conference on Feb. 3.
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The transitional housing
shelter, according to Sutterfield, will provide many supports for
people in the Logan County area. One of its focuses will be to
incorporate training that develops living skills to help people who
are homeless or in need of assistance.
The Salvation Army has been
active in the Lincoln since the early 1900s. At their former Citadel
site, 307 N. Kickapoo St., the Salvation Army provided help for
those in need and also held Christian services. A fire in 1997
destroyed the building.
The new transitional shelter
will be built at the old Citadel site. Architectural drawings of the
new floor plans were developed prior to the May 24, 2002,
announcement. There have been only minor changes to the plans since
then. These changes include some office windows and a locked
kitchen. Roger Webster Construction has contracted to build the
shelter.
"I am pleased with the progress
of the fund-raising," Sutterfield said, noting that $326,000 has
already been raised. "Volunteers have been invaluable in raising
funds." Assistant State's Attorney Jonathan Wright, Dean Langdon
from Lincoln Community High School and Mike Miller of Webster
Construction have been supportive and instrumental in the
fund-raising process. The fund-raising effort also would not have
done as well without Wendi Read, the campaign secretary for the
Salvation Army in Lincoln, he said.
The main reason for the news
conference was to let people know that "we are still here,"
Sutterfield said. During the past few months most of the
fund-raising has been done through the holiday kettle drive. The
Salvation Army is now starting a media blitz to raise the remainder
of the needed funds. The goal is $700,000, but construction of the
shelter will begin when the total reaches $500,000.
To raise the rest of the funds
needed, a mailing will be going out this week to people living in
Lincoln and the Logan County area. There will also be radio and
cable ads, and a website is planned.
Sugar Creek Essentials on
McLean Street will be making refillable candles and selling them to
raise funds for the project. A 6-ounce candle will cost $6.50; a
12-ounce candle will cost $12.50. Refills will be $4.87 for a
6-ounce candle and $9.37 for a 12-ounce candle. The candles will be
on sale soon at State Bank of Lincoln, Logan County Bank, Union
Planters Bank, Central Illinois Bank and at That Place, Inc.
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"One thing that I like about
the Salvation Army is that all monies from the fund-raising remains
in the local area," Sutterfield said. "The need just keeps growing!
There is no homeless or emergency shelter anywhere in Logan County.
Nearly 600 people last year alone received our assistance.
"In January of 2003 seven cases
of homelessness received help from the Lincoln Salvation Army. Three
cases involved people losing their homes due to fires, and four
occurred because of repossessions of their homes. There is a very
great need for a transitional shelter," he added.
As the Logan County economy
grows dimmer, the need to support people will only grow. Sutterfield
emphasized that the transitional shelter will not provide overnight
shelter; the Lincoln ministerial alliance will continue to be the
best way to find overnight shelter. The Salvation Army will make a
covenant with people who are in need, people suffering from
homelessness, domestic violence, substance abuse or who need help in
learning financial responsibility. The shelter will work with people
to help them develop skills to help themselves.
The original plans were to
successfully complete the transitional shelter in one to three
years. Sutterfield believes that the local Salvation Army is off to
a good start. He encourages people to help with the fund-raising
drive, to purchase the refillable candles and to support making the
Salvation Army Transitional Home Shelter dream a reality. There are
few grants or matching funds available to help the Salvation Army
meet their goal.
With the help of the Lincoln
community the Salvation Army will expand their services to include
programs that will offer hope for struggling parents and needy
children; will continue to grow in their ability to offer help for
the hungry and the homeless; and will be able to offer family
development classes and training programs that promote healthy and
functional families.
With
the help of the local community the Salvation Army will meet their
goal and live up to their motto, "Everyone deserves a home."
[Don Todd]
Click to enlarge:
[First floor plan]
[Second floor plan]
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The members of the task force will
include experts in youth services, social work, child abuse
prevention and family issues.
The governor said that the task force
will be assigned to provide a thorough assessment of the state's
current child welfare needs as well as current conditions within the
department that impact whether those needs are being met.
Such factors include the state's
policies, the methods and models of delivery used by DCFS.
Blagojevich said that the appointment
of the task force is part of his ongoing efforts to reform state
government.
“Since taking office three weeks ago,
and long before that, I have discussed the need to bring
comprehensive reform to how state government operates,” he said.
He said that his goal is “to find ways,
within every state agency, to improve the service we provide to the
people of Illinois.”
“Nowhere is that as necessary as it is
within the Department of Children and Family Services,” he said.
The governor's announcement comes in
the wake of a number of high-profile cases that have “upset and
angered parents and people across Illinois -- including me,” he
said.
The governor is also seeking from the
task force recommendations for changes and how to implement them.
The governor gave the task force 60
days to complete its work.
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Task force members are:
* Sister Catherine Ryan, an attorney
who has worked for the Cook County state's attorney on issues of
juvenile placement.
* Judith Walker Kendrick, who has
served in local and federal government positions and is a consultant
to a coalition of child care programs.
* Deborah Ann Daro, an accomplished
scientist in child development and child abuse prevention.
* Gilbert Walker, who has worked
extensively with children who live in the inner cities.
* Dr. Daniel Cuneo, a psychologist
currently serving on a panel of volunteer professionals who review
cases of any infant deaths that occur within DCFS.
* Patti Blagojevich, the first lady of
Illinois, who will focus on issues related to adoption and foster
care.
* Bryan Samuels, who has worked on
efforts in several states to improve the delivery of public
services, and who will convene the panel.
The group will work closely with the
deputy chief of staff for social services, Louanner Peters.
In addition, Blagojevich announced the
appointment of Sal Diaz to be the head of child protection within
DCFS.
Diaz, a
20-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, currently teaches
classes within the Chicago City Colleges to other law enforcement
agents. The courses focus on how to investigate child abuse cases
and the Juvenile Justice Act. He is a former child abuse
investigator at DCFS and a juvenile court probation officer.
[Illinois
Government News Network
press release] |
