The summit will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 11, at the Jacksonville Public Library, 201 W. College Ave.
Memorial Health convened a steering committee in partnership with more than 20 county-level stakeholders and other organizations that provide care and resources to the community, including the West Central Continuum of Care, people with lived experience of homelessness and several direct service organizations. They are tasked with developing a county-wide plan to address homelessness and improve the effectiveness of the system of care for local residents experiencing homelessness.
Lori Hartz, director of community health at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, said that 25 people were surveyed as part of this year’s point-in-time count, an annual census of people experiencing homelessness on the streets and in local shelters. “We also know that more than 100 children face housing insecurity and hundreds of people are seeking housing-related resources from our community-based organizations in Morgan County,” Hartz said. “We invite all local residents to attend the summit, learn more about the issue and share their thoughts on how we can help people experiencing homelessness get the resources they need, including stable housing.”
“Issues related to homelessness are increasing faster in rural communities and are often hidden,” said Becky Gabany, Memorial Health system director of community health. “We are partnering on similar work in Christian and Logan counties as well and hope to build coalitions to address the serious issue of rural homelessness.”
For more information, contact Gabany at 217-788-3374 or communityhealth@mhsil.com.