CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – The Summit on Homelessness: A Community Conversation was held all day today at the Champaign Public Library in front of a packed crowd. The City of Champaign Council, as well as the Neighborhood Services Advisory Board hosted the event, which saw the keynote address delivered by Christine Haley from the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness.
Cunningham Township Supervisor Danielle Chynoweth said the calls her office gets only increase as affordable housing availability decreases. Before the pandemic, her office fielded close to 1,000 calls per year. In 2024 so far, they have received more than 1,700 calls for help. Martell Miller, also from Cunningham Township, said, of people living on the streets, “Your worst day is a homeless person’s every day. If you see them sleeping in a tent, that’s all they’ve got.” Martell went on to explain that it was a housing crisis. “Until we build places people can afford, it’s called survival.”
The head of the United Way of Champaign County, Sue Grey, was in attendance, as well at Julie Pryde from the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District. The summit offered an opportunity for attendees to learn about current homeless services, help identify service gaps and discuss next steps in improving care for unhoused individuals.