Anonymous donors challenge the community to raise $30,000 for Veteran Tiny Home projects

[May 16, 2021]  The Central Illinois Veterans Commission [CIVC] seeks support to match $30,000 pledged by two anonymous donors who want to help Central Illinois veterans. Any sized gift made to the CIVC - from $5 to $5,000 or more, will be matched up to a total of $30,000.

Funds raised will support the CIVC’s efforts to construct “tiny houses” in Lincoln, IL designed to provide transitional and/or permanent housing to homeless veterans.

If the matching challenge is successful, $60,000 will be available to construct the first two proposed tiny houses on a lot at the corner of College and Sixth Streets in Lincoln. The CIVC tiny house initiative is modeled after the Veterans Community Project located in St. Louis [https://tinyurl.com/yydnfsz2], which features a mix of single-occupancy, 240-square foot and 320-square foot, fully furnished homes.

Donations can be made a number of ways, including checks written to the Central Illinois Veterans Commission, via a PayPal account accessible at CIVC’s website, by dropping off donations at State Bank of Lincoln at 111 N. Sangamon Street or or at the Veterans Assistance Commission office, 122 N. McLean Street. 

The challenge match will end May 30, 2021, so the public is encouraged to participate by making donations now, to ensure the full $30,000 is leveraged.

The Central Illinois Veterans Commission is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Its mission is to provide veterans with holistic services designed to eliminate barriers in obtaining permanent housing. To do so, it engages honorably discharged veterans in programs focused on workplace skills, financial and life coaching, mental health counseling, and housing assistance. The CIVC Board includes representatives from the Lincoln Salvation Army, and the Logan County Veterans Assistance Commission. The Board also includes an ex officio member representing the Logan County Economic Development Partnership. The CIVC service area stretches north to Marshall County, south to Fayette County, east to the Indiana border, and west to the Mississippi River, encompassing over 50 counties.

In addition to donations made to this $30,000 match challenge, the CIVC encourages the public to consider other ways of support its mission, including donations of land and through financial estate planning. All gifts will be used to provide Central Illinois veterans with the tools and support systems needed to enable them to move forward to obtain permanent housing.

[Bill Thomas]