IL city greenlights $2.5M tiny home project for homeless amid national
concerns
[June 14, 2025]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – A nonprofit is in line to get McClean County tax
dollars and private donations to build 50 cabin tiny homes for homeless
individuals.
Critics say similar projects haven't resulted in a decline in
homelessness. At a recent City Council meeting, Bloomington city council
member Sheila Montney pointed to data from Denver and Seattle, cities
that have implemented similar low-barrier housing models.
“The outcomes from Denver are significantly concerning to me,” she said,
noting that 19 residents of micro-communities there had died, 258
returned to homelessness, 61 were jailed, and 105 had unknown outcomes,
statistics she described as “generally negative.”
Home Sweet Home Ministries is seeking $1.3 million in taxpayer funds
from the McLean County Board for the $2.5 million dollar project.
Videos of Los Angeles residents expressing frustration over alleged
open-air drug dealing have been circulating on social media.
“They built maybe over 100 tiny homes. But when that started, all the
drug dealers stormed the area. It turned into open-air drug dealing
every day. Of course, that brought crime. People want money for drugs.
Homes are broken into, there are robberies and looting, and homeless
camps have sprung up all around the area. So these tiny homes didn’t
really help anything,” said one unnamed resident.
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Hope the Mission has partnered with the city of Los Angeles and Los
Angeles County to develop and operate several tiny home villages.
According to 2023 tax filings, the nonprofit brought in over $119
million in total revenue, that includes government grants and
private donations.
Bloomington Councilman Cody Hendricks, who voted in support of the
project, said this was Bloomington’s chance to model compassion in
action and be a representation for the region.
“Is it going to be perfect? No, nothing ever is. But it's a start
and it's the right start. For too long, we've waited for ideal
conditions and many, many locations to pop up to act while too many
of our neighbors have gone without shelter,” said Hendricks during a
council meeting.
Montney noted that as Bloomington moves forward with the project, it
should anticipate a significant increase in the need for law
enforcement and EMT services.
"The other study I provided to staff relates to an analysis of what
happened with a similar approach in Seattle. What they learned, and
this was also true in Denver, was that once they started down the
Housing First process, their homeless population increased at the
same time,” said Montney. “Looking back at their history and their
situation at the end of 2024, they saw a significant increase in
homelessness. In that case, 50% of the increase was attributed to
people who moved into the area without having any ties to the
community."
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