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TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Chris Ragona, Director of Community Services
DATE: October 22, 2025
SUBJECT:
A resolution authorizing the city to accept a grant award of $1,578,000 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and to approve a Participation Agreement between the City of Aurora and Hesed House for renovations to expand the family shelter capacity of Hesed House.
PURPOSE:
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) issued a notice of funding opportunity to fund construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or acquisition of property for Homeless Shelters (as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) dedicated to the provision of stable, safe and adequate housing with a goal of increasing capacity to pre-COVID levels. Only units of local government in areas receiving direct entitlement CDBG funding from HUD were eligible to apply for the state of Illinois CDBG-CV Urban Shelter Program. The city of Aurora submitted two applications on behalf of Hesed House and Mutual Ground, with each application receiving approval.
BACKGROUND:
According to research published by Western Illinois University, between 2023 and 2024, there has been a staggering increase of 116% in the number of people experiencing homelessness in Illinois. Even prior to the pandemic, a person experiencing homelessness arrived at Hesed House in Aurora seeking support every 8 hours.
To continue to meet rising demand, Hesed House is seeking to complete a renovation and expansion of its family shelter space. The Hesed House family shelter opened in 2018 and provides a variety of services beyond the 24/7/356 access to meals and shelter for resident families. The current legal capacity of the family shelter is 59 men, women, and children. Unfortunately, increasing demand has forced Hesed to utilize off-site hotels to supplement the family shelter.
In calendar year 2024, the Family Shelter averaged 77 men,...
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