Our Programs

“The Homeless Prevention Program provides rental/mortgage assistance, security deposit assistance, utility assistance, approved case management, and approved supportive services to individuals and families who are in imminent danger of eviction, foreclosure, or are currently homeless. Supportive services must directly relate to preventing homelessness. These services are provided in an effort to stabilize families in their existing homes, shorten the amount of time that individuals and families stay in shelters, and assist individuals and families with securing affordable housing.” [from Chapter IV, Section A of the program manual for Homeless Services]

Diversion is the intervention with the greatest impact at the community level for people experiencing homelessness. It helps people avoid entering shelters and/or the homeless response system by resolving their immediate housing crisis through creative housing-focused problem-solving, connection to natural supports and/or community resources, and financial assistance (not a requirement but impactful). Most importantly, it is not a denial or barrier to shelter or homeless system entry. Diversion happens at the front door of the homelessness system, but housing-focused problem-solving – which is a crucial part of diversion – can happen upstream and throughout the system. - NAEH

We at the Central Illinois Continuum of Care recognize that Emergency Shelter isn’t always the best solution for those struggling with Homelessness. We are continuously working to create clear paths of communication between agencies to bring our 11 counties together to provide a path to Permanent Housing for all residents. By working with folks at every level of service, from Street Outreach, to Permanent Supportive Housing, we are working to include all of our agents in diversion training so that they can utilize housing-focused problem-solving conversations when individuals experience a housing crisis in a different system.

NAEH Diversion Pie Chart