The summit will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, at the City of Taylorville Municipal Building, 115 N. Main St., Taylorville.
Memorial Health convened a steering committee in partnership with more than 15 county-level stakeholders and other organizations that provide care and resources to the community, including the South 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 who experience homelessness.
“At least 78 individuals were provided support related to homelessness in the first quarter of 2023, and we know more than 100 children face housing insecurity in our schools,” said Darin Buttz, Taylorville Memorial Hospital director of community health. “We invite all local residents to attend the summit, learn more about the issue and share their thoughts on how we can help people who experience homelessness to access the resources they need.”
“Issues related to homelessness are increasing faster in rural communities and are often hidden,” said Becky Gabany, Memorial Health director of community health. “We are partnering on similar work in Morgan 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 email communityhealth@mhsil.com.