75% Spike In Homelessness In Lake Co.: New Homeless Shelter Proposed

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A former Waukegan hotel is being transformed into a new, permanent shelter for homeless families in Lake County, county officials said in recent weeks.

PADS Lake County plans to modify the nearly 33,000-square-foot former Travelodge hotel located on Lewis Avenue in Waukegan into a safe place to sleep, eat and receive assistance for those who find themselves unhoused in Lake County, county officials said last month.

The proposed new facility will offer more than 60 rooms with 200 beds and communal areas for socializing, according to a news release from Lake County.

The Lake County Board allocated $7.06 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to support this project. An additional $2 million in funding was provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, according to a news release.

“The lack of affordable housing is the leading cause of homelessness in our county, especially for families,” said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. “This has contributed to a dramatic rise in the number of families unable to find a place to live. This new shelter is going to be an essential and much-needed resource in our fight to combat family homelessness in our community.”

The need for a permanent shelter in Lake County has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Non-dedicated buildings, such as community centers and places of worship, were used to offer temporary shelters for the unhoused, but because of health and safety concerns, these buildings were removed as shelter options during the pandemic.

“The pre-COVID shelter system consisted of a congregate setting. The shelter would be set in a different location each day of the week. That model ceased during COVID for obvious public health concerns since they were not able to distance," Tammy Chatman, chief communications officer for Lake County. "That model has not returned because the non-congregate model (hotel rooms) has been determined to be a better approach to shelter."

The new site will allow PADS Lake County to offer 24-hour operations with specialty trained staff.

Allen Swilley, executive director for PADS Lake County, said homelessness has increased by a "staggering 75%" over the past yer.

“PADS is proud to partner with Lake County in developing resilient and durable social infrastructure to address the rising homelessness crisis across our community," said Allen Swilley, Executive Director of PADS Lake County.

Creating a permanent shelter will increase available assistance to residents currently unhoused, with the aim of reducing the amount of time individuals and families experience homelessness. The new shelter will also help increase the quality of assistance and services to be provided, creating a better living situation for families and support moving into stable housing, according to a news release.

The facility will serve as a central resource center for PADS Lake County to provide housing, food and case management services for individuals and families in need.

Having multiple services housed under one roof also has the potential to increase the resources accessed by those in need and deepen the impact to Lake County residents, county officials said.

“I’m grateful that residents will benefit from our partnership with PADS Lake County,” said Mary Ross-Cunningham, Lake County Board Vice-chair and Board Member for District 9. “This project is an excellent example of how collaboration to address the housing issues facing our residents in Waukegan and across the county can make a real difference. Lake County is dedicated to working on ways to assist all those who find themselves unhoused."