An overnight warming center for those in need is coming later this week in Galesburg.
Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 1, the Knox County Housing Authority in partnership with the Salvation Army will operate an overnight winter shelter in Galesburg, to provide refuge from the cold and a safe place to sleep for homeless individuals. The shelter is funded by grants from the City of Galesburg and the Knox County 708 Mental Health Board.
The shelter, located at 525/527 Iowa Court will operate from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, including weekends and holidays, from Nov. 1 through April 30.
In addition to low-barrier overnight shelter, staff will also connect patrons with referrals for services that support housing security, food and nutritional stability, drug and alcohol addiction recovery, and mental health services. During daytime hours when staff are present, Knox County Housing Authority will also offer the use of community spaces within their facilities as warming centers.
This is the third year the City of Galesburg has partnered with local institutions in order to provide overnight winter shelter for homeless individuals. Last year, through this collaborative partnership, the Knox County Housing Authority and Salvation Army provided overnight shelter to 95 unique individuals, with an average of 11 people per night at the shelter.
Due to case management by shelter staff, 22 of the 95 individuals became successfully housed outside of a shelter setting. Thirteen were permanently housed in their own apartments, one was referred and successfully entered into inpatient rehabilitation, two were referred and transported to mental health facilities in the region, and six were provided transportation for reunification with family members. This represents a success story, which goes beyond a night’s shelter, for approximately 23% of shelter patrons.
“The overnight winter shelter fills an immediate, emergency necessity for homeless individuals to have a safe place to sleep overnight,” said Derek Antoine, Executive Director of the Knox County Housing Authority. “While that lifesaving need cannot be overstated, shelter staff also strive to navigate individuals to sustainable solutions by addressing the causal issues, and providing the tools they need to move forward.”
For more information, individuals can visit the warming shelter at 525/527 Iowa Court, the Salvation Army at 510 N. Kellogg Street (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), or call the Salvation Army at 309-342-9168.
