Latest / Illinois Valley - Shaw Local / Ottawa PADS shelter is finished, move-in day coming this fall

Transcript

Ottawa PADS shelter is finished, move-in day coming this fall · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

• 0:05
  Speaker 1: Ottawa Pads Shelter is finished. Move-in day coming this fall.
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: Written by Tom Collins. This article is being read by
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: an automated voice brought to you by Everlit. The new
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: homeless shelter in Ottawa is finished. Move-in day will be
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: September 9th. Clients will be admitted later this fall, and
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: a ribbon cutting will be October 1st. Illinois Valley Public
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: Action to Deliver Shelter announced in a Tuesday press release
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: that construction of the shelter has been completed. An open
• 0:35
  Speaker 1: house has been set for 430 to 7. PM Thursday,
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: October 1st at the shelter at 1120 Canal Street. This
• 0:43
  Speaker 1: new shelter is more than a building. Executive Director Carol
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: Alkern said, it represents hope and a brighter future for
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: the people we serve. We are incredibly grateful to the donors,
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: community partners, volunteers, businesses, churches, and supporters who helped make
• 0:59
  Speaker 1: this dream possible. The new 11,264-square-foot facility will offer improved
• 1:06
  Speaker 1: living spaces, dedicated rooms for families, and additional support services
• 1:11
  Speaker 1: to better address the needs of those experiencing homelessness. The
• 1:16
  Speaker 1: $ 4 million project was realized thanks to many donors. Arguably
• 1:20
  Speaker 1: atop that list is the City of Ottawa, which obtained
• 1:23
  Speaker 1: a $ 2 million grant through the Community Development Block Grant,
• 1:28
  Speaker 1: CARES Act Rural Shelter Grant Program to support construction. The
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: completion of the new pad shelter is something our entire
• 1:36
  Speaker 1: community should be proud of, Ottawa Mayor Robert Hastie said.
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: The city was fortunate to receive grant funding to help
• 1:43
  Speaker 1: make this project possible, but it took the commitment and
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: hard work of pads and many others to bring it
• 1:49
  Speaker 1: across the finish line. Most importantly, this gives people in
• 1:53
  Speaker 1: difficult circumstances a safe place, support, and a little dignity
• 1:57
  Speaker 1: when they need it most. Ottawa is a better community
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: because of it. The new building will enhance capacity and
• 2:03
  Speaker 1: accessibility for those in need, and the recent totals have
• 2:07
  Speaker 1: been daunting. During the season that ended May 31st, according
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: to the press release, IVPADS served 556 clients, including 51
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: family units and 101 children, and provided 29,986 shelter nights.
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: Volunteers and supporters helped serve more than 86,000 meals. Notably,
• 2:29
  Speaker 1: 51 clients secured housing and 132 obtained employment. While the
• 2:34
  Speaker 1: shelter was under construction, Illinois Valley Pads operated out of
• 2:38
  Speaker 1: the former YMCA building at 201 East Jackson Street. The
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: city further assisted with renovations including roof repairs, installation of
• 2:46
  Speaker 1: a kitchen, the creation of designated sleeping areas, plus updates
• 2:50
  Speaker 1: to electrical systems and HVAC. While the project has been
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: fully funded, the Ottawa Pads Shelter has ongoing needs such
• 2:58
  Speaker 1: as food, utilities, and staffing. Donors are needed and are
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: encouraged to visit evepads.com or call 815-224-3047 for ways to help.
• 3:07
  Speaker 1: Donations may also be mailed to P.O. Box 1012 LaSalle,
• 3:11
  Speaker 1: Illinois 61301. Volunteer labor also is needed, particularly in the kitchen.
• 3:17
  Speaker 1: Interested persons or groups are asked to contact Marissa Trumper
• 3:21
  Speaker 1: at 815-433-1291 or ottawapads at gmail.com.