City Council Study Session

Regular Meeting

Rock Island, IL · August 25, 2025

Minutes

CITY OF ROCK ISLAND CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION City Council Chambers, City Hall, 3rd Floor, 1528 Third Avenue, Rock Island, IL 8/25/2025 - Minutes 1. Call to Order Mayor Harris called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. and welcomed everyone. 2. Roll Call Mayor Harris asked Deputy Clerk Amanda Torres to call the roll. Present: Alderpersons Jenni Swanson, Dylan Parker, Mark Poulos and Mayor Harris. Alderperson Glen Evans arrived at 5:04 p.m. and Alderperson Linda Barnes arrived at 5:05 p.m. Absent: Alderpersons Randy Hurt and Bill Healy. Staff: City Manager Todd Thompson, Attorney Leslie Day, Deputy Clerk Amanda Torres, and other City Staff. Mayor Harris announced that public comment would be moved to after the presentations. 3. Public Comment Ron Lund from Project NOW spoke about the Continuum of Care. Annika O'Melia spoke about the Third Place. Brian Ritter spoke about Milan Bottoms. Mollie Thies spoke about the moratorium on homeless shelters. 4. Presentations a. Presentation from Christian Care. Executive Director Frank Roe provided an overview of Christian Care, which has served the community for 106 years. He noted there are only two facilities on the Illinois side of the river that provide shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness: Christian Care and Martha’s House. Christian Care offers 42 beds for men, six beds dedicated to Veterans’ Transitional Living, and three beds for the court system, serving approximately 200–250 individuals annually. Martha’s House provides housing for up to 20 women, including women with children, and serves about 100 individuals annually. Mr. Roe explained that Christian Care provides case management services through a holistic approach, addressing basic needs, connecting clients with mainstream resources, removing barriers to housing, and supporting transitions into permanent housing of choice in collaboration with other nonprofit partners. He noted that the Rescue Mission is projected to serve approximately 45,000 meals this year. In partnership with Project NOW, Christian Care also provides street outreach services to individuals living unsheltered. Additional 1 services include chapel services, a warming and cooling shelter, a parish nurse program, Prairie State Legal assistance, a public resource lab and library, and public showers. He clarified that the showers and meals are available to anyone free of charge and confirmed that Christian Care is part of the Coordinated Entry System. He further explained that the street outreach team is comprised of staff familiar with the local area and the locations where unsheltered individuals may be found. The team also builds relationships with hospitals, law enforcement, and other community partners to ensure connection to services. He said 40-45 percent of the population they serve suffers with mental health issues and they can assist with getting their medications, etc. Mr. Roe explained the distinction between an emergency shelter and a homeless shelter, noting that an emergency shelter’s primary purpose is to provide temporary housing in response to either general homelessness or specific emergencies. He further stated that Christian Care operates as a dry shelter rather than a wet shelter and utilizes a hybrid model. b. Presentation from Humility Homes. Executive Director Ashley Williams of Humility Homes and Services provided an overview of the organization’s history and mission, noting their commitment to ending homelessness by offering housing opportunities and supportive services throughout the greater Quad Cities. She reported that between July 2024 and June 2025, more than 1,300 individuals were served through shelter or housing programs. Ms. Williams stated that Rock Island County has experienced a 25 to 40 percent increase in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness. She also explained the methodology used to count homeless populations and presented a chart illustrating the number of housing beds required to achieve functional zero in the State of Illinois. Ms. Williams next discussed Coordinated Entry, or COC, describing it as a system-wide process designed to quickly and equitably connect individuals with needed services. She noted that in the Quad Cities, Scott County and Rock Island County collaborate to develop solutions for those experiencing homelessness, with Project NOW managing the Illinois side and Humility overseeing the Iowa side. Ms. Williams highlighted their street outreach coordination in Rock Island, noting limited staffing capacity. She stated that the recommendation is to provide a 30-hour-per-week street outreach worker dedicated to covering the City of Rock Island and partnering with the downtown area in a model similar to Davenport. Additionally, she explained that two shelter beds would be reserved for Rock Island Police Department drop-offs and outlined the funding required for the next three years. Ms. Williams further noted ongoing collaboration with the Quad Cities Open Network to secure funding for a full-time Library Social Worker to assist individuals seeking access to coordinated entry and other resources. Ms. Williams noted additional recommendations, including expanding community policing efforts and a day center, among other recommendations. Executive Director Cecilia Bailey of the Quad Cities Open Network reported that the organization is a collaborative entity working with approximately 84 partner agencies in health and human services to provide a shared referral system for individuals in need. She stated that the Network works collectively across multiple areas to identify service gaps and barriers within the Quad Cities and highlighted ongoing behavioral health initiatives. Ms. Bailey reviewed opportunities identified through several focus groups conducted in 2023, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among service agencies and the value of creating neutral, easily accessible access points to community resources. She stated that by expanding the structure of the referral system and 2 broadening its scope, this system can have a measurable impact on our community. Ms. Bailey discussed the funding and said there wasn't a specific formula, but suggested amounts that the City could contribute funds towards, such as a library social worker position. Ms. Williams discussed the need to expand street outreach and add low-barrier shelters to strengthen and expand services and increase community impact. She also highlighted the shortage of affordable housing in the Quad Cities. It was noted that achieving functional zero will require greater collaboration among agencies on both sides of the river and a more coordinated team approach is needed. 5. Adjourn a. Motion: Motion to adjourn. VV Voice vote is needed. MOTION: Alderperson Evans moved to adjourn; Alderperson Poulos seconded. VOTE: Motion PASSED on a 5-0-2 voice vote. Aye: Swanson, Parker, Poulos, Evans, Barnes. Nay: None. Absent: Healy, Hurt. The study session concluded at 6:09 p.m. [MIN_SIGNATURES] 3

Agenda

Packet

City Council Study Session Agenda August 25, 2025 - 5:00 PM City Council Chambers, City Hall, 3rd Floor, 1528 Third Avenue, Rock Island, IL Click Here to Watch Live 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Public Comment 4. Presentations a. Presentation from Christian Care. b. Presentation from Humility Homes. 5. Adjourn a. Motion: Motion to adjourn. VV Voice vote is needed. This agenda may be obtained in accessible formats by qualified persons with a disability by making appropriate arrangements from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, by contacting the City Clerk's Office at (309) 732-2010 or visiting in person at: 1528 Third Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201. Page 1 of 34 “It is our job to rebuild the character & confidence of defeated men & women.” - Guy Oliver Rodgers - Christian Care Founded in 1916 Page 2 of 34 Emergency Shelter MISSION MARTHA’S HOUSE Page 3 of 34 RESCUE MISSION 42 Beds for men. 6 Beds dedicated to Veterans’ Transitional Living. 3 Beds for RI County Court Systems. Serve approximately 200-250 annually. Page 4 of 34 MARTHA’S HOUSE 6 Bedroom House located in Broadway District of Rock Island. Capacity 20 women & women with children. Serve approximately 100 annually. Page 5 of 34 Case Management Basic needs Mainstream resources Barriers to housing Permanent housing of choice Page 6 of 34 Community Meal Site ❑ Projecting 45,000 meals in 2025 ❑ Serving 7 days a week ❑ Vegetable gardens harvest over 400 pounds annually Bring & Serve Program Over 300 days last year had at least 1 meal provided for by volunteers. Page 7 of 34 Street Outreach Services ❑ On the streets daily working with those living unsheltered. ❑ Immediate connections to Coordinated Entry Systems. ❑ SOAR certified staff. Christian Care ❑ Serves 15 counties. Project Now Over 50 unique contacts in July 2025 alone. Page 8 of 34 Page 9 of 34 Chapel services War r s ming/ owe Coo ics h Cen ling bl ter Pu Parish Nurse Services Public resource lab/library Prairie State Legal Page 10 of 34 2024 EMERGENCY SHELTER Rescue Mission Martha’s House 222 Men 85 women 31 Veterans 24 Children 1,366 Crisis Logs 665 Crisis Logs Recorded Recorded Meal Site 42,200 Meals Served Page 11 of 34 Volunteers Chapel services Front desk Meal site Fundraising committee Page 12 of 34 Thank YOU for helping us Build Bridges for others. Page 13 of 34 www.humilityhomes.org Page 14 of 34 About Us In 1990, Humility of Mary Housing, Inc. was founded with the purpose of serving single-parent families. In 2008, the City of Davenport asked the Congregation of Humility of Mary (CHM) to take over the local emergency homeless shelter that was renamed Humility of Mary Shelter, Inc. In 2018, Humility of Mary Housing, Inc. and Humility of Mary Shelter, Inc. merged, forming the organization known today as Humility Homes & Services, Inc. (HHSI). Today, HHSI provides emergency shelter, housing, and supportive services to over 1,300 individuals and families. Page 15 of 34 Mission Humility Homes and Services, Inc. is committed to ending homelessness by offering housing opportunities and supportive services in the greater Quad Cities. Vision A home for every person. Page 16 of 34 Humility Quick Facts Started as one property- 4 Units- and we have grown our owned units to over 150 units on both IL and IA sides of the Quad Cities. Our program began as transitional housing for women and children, but we have expanded and grown to what the community has needed from us. Our entire mission has always only been homelessness and housing. Over 1,300 individuals were served in shelter or housing services between July 2024 and June 2025. We house more individuals than we shelter every single year. Helped reduce Veteran homelessness to a Net Zero in 2020; meaning that there is always a bed at our shelter for veterans needing housing. We celebrate that over 45% of individuals report positive outcomes exiting our emergency shelter, those with not positive outcomes generally need a higher level of care. Page 17 of 34 HHSI Programs Street Outreach Our outreach navigators build relationships with individuals living outside to get a better understanding of their particular barriers to becoming housed. They provide emergency supplies such as water, hygiene products, blankets, and referrals to appropriate service. Emergency Shelter HHSI’s 80-bed, low barrier, year-round emergency shelter is the Quad Cities’ largest and only “housing first” emergency shelter. Rapid Rehousing Rapid Rehousing bridges the gap between a housing crisis and housing stability by providing short-term rental assistance and case management. Households who have recently experienced homelessness are quickly rehoused. Veterans Housing Program & Supportive Services Veteran services provide shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid rehousing funding and supports to veterans and their households. Supportive Housing This program addresses the needs of individuals experiencing recurring homelessness, who may add costs to systems paid for by the public such as hospital emergency departments, short- and long-term behavioral health units, and the criminal justice system. Mission Focused Housing HHSI’s Mission Focused Housing program assists households who are not eligible for federal and state housing assistance programs, as well as Housing Choice Voucher Program Section 8 holders. Page 18 of 34 Point in Time Count PIT is a federally required count every January that is used to understand the scope of homelessness, guide resource allocation, inform policy both federally and locally, and demonstrate the need for funding and services. The Point in Time Count (PIT) for the Quad Cities Bi-State Region (Scott County, IA and Rock Island County, IL) was 472 in January 2025– including adults and children. 154 were in Rock Island County, – this number is up 40% over 4 years (2020-2024). The most alarming of this number is we saw a 25% increase in the average number of new individuals entering the system this past January. When completing the PIT, the individual must provide the zip code of their last permanent address for 90 days or more. This is how you decide what city, county and area of country those experiencing homelessness are coming from. Page 19 of 34 Along with the PIT count, HUD (and the Housing Beds Needed for Functional Zero in the State of Illinois State of IL) looks at the Housing Emergency Shelter Transitional Housing Rapid Rehousing Permeant Supportive Total Inventory Count (RRH) Supportive Housing • HIC is a point- in- time inventory of provider Current 6,769 2,663 3,364 15,072 28,168 programs within COC’s that provide beds and units System dedicated to serving people experiencing Capacity homelessness: (Baseline) • Emergency Shelter Need 11,3230 2,006 13,085 21,364 47,775 • Permanent Supportive Housing Based On • Transitional Housing Model • Safe- Haven Housing +4,551 -657 +9,421 +6,292 +19,607 • Rapid Re-Housing Unit Need Illinois captures and tracks these data points through the statewide homelessness task force which was created in 2021 by Gov. Pritzker to work to bring our state to a functional zero. Page 20 of 34 Housing Beds Needed for Functional Zero in the Quad Cities Bi-State Region Population Current System Assessed Need Optimization Gap Optimization Resource Need Compon ent Singles Crisis 117 412 -295 Response $508,874 - $4,071,000 Moderate 52 199 -147 (RRH) $2,873,850 Intensive 96 432 -336 (PSH) $7,534,800 Families Crisis 40 73 -33 Response $56,925 – 683,100 Moderate 33 35 -2 (RRH) $49,220 Intensive 15 75 -60 (PSH) $1,614,600 Total $12,638,270 - $16,826,570 Annually Page 21 of 34 Coordinated Entry There are 19 COC’s in Illinois and all 19 are then subdivided into smaller regions for communities to address the systematic issues on a smaller scale. For the Quad Cities, we are a Bi-State Region, therefore, Scott County Iowa and Rock Island County Illinois team up to address and create solutions for those experiencing homelessness in our community together. For those experiencing homelessness in order to gain services reported in the HIC, the person must be entered into the Coordinated Entry (CE) system. Coordinated Entry is a CoC-established system-wide process to quickly and equitably coordinate the access, assessment, prioritization and referrals to housing and services for people experiencing or at imminent-risk of homelessness. (definition from HUD) • Project Now manages the Illinois CE List and Humility Homes & Services manages the Iowa side of the list and the lists are then combined. • Agencies offer HIC services including HHSI, Project NOW, Salvation Army, Family Resources and Bethany for Children & Family Services. • Multiple access points are needed for CE. Iowa has them, but Illinois does not. On any given week, you would find at least 300 to 350 households waiting for assistance. Page 22 of 34 What is HHSI currently doing in Rock Island? • Street Outreach in the downtown primarily around the library. • Minimal hours being conducted due to staff capacity • 7 currently enrolled in programming– 2 individuals last zip code was 61201 • Services being provided: clothing, hygiene items, navigation services of substance abuse services and/or mental health services, assistance with obtaining Identification, housing search assistance • Veteran’s Services • Rapid Rehousing Services • Affordable Housing Page 23 of 34 What is HHSI recommendation? • Fund a 30 hour a week Street Outreach worker employed by HHSI to capture real time data picture. • HHSI would work collaboratively with the Rock Island Downtown Partnership similarly to what we currently due with Downtown Davenport Partnership. • Street Outreach would cover the entire City of Rock Island as we do in our contract with the City of Moline for our Street Outreach worker paid for by the city. • Work daily with the police and ride along with the police when responding to calls regarding those experiencing homelessness • We would hold 2 beds in our emergency shelter in Davenport, IA for Rock Island Police Drop-offs • We would provide reports to you regarding those that we helped at whatever interval requested by City Council. • Request for 3 Years: • FY 2025 $41,887.80 • FY 2026 $44,444.10 • FY 2027 $47,231.40 • Work with Quad Cities Open Network to fund a full-time Library Social Worker to work with those needing access to Coordinated Entry or other resources while housed and on the verge of entering homelessness and/or work with those who are currently homeless (Please see PowerPoint for QCON) • Work with the Quad Cities Housing Council on their regional plan to create more affordable housing as outlined in the Silos to Solution Plan and current consultant work locally. Page 24 of 34 What is HHSI recommendation? • Expand access to Coordinated Entry through multiple access points such as the Library, the Rock Island School District and/or the Third Place. • Expand Community Policing efforts to include a dedicated Homeless Liaison worker on the Rock Island Police Force. • Allow a day center, such as the Third Place, to open for those living unsheltered for them to have a safe place to go for our Street Outreach worker and other social service providers to meet those experiencing homelessness in a safe place. Work with them on ensuring their hours can be more than Monday to Friday and can be more inclusive to be open 7 days a week. • Along with the Bi-State Regional Commission and HHSI host a one-day summit bringing all the municipalities together for each municipality to take a piece of this puzzle to bring homelessness to a Functional Zero. Examples include: • Push for an Encampment to Home Challenge Strategy. • Align with the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness strategies and help create systematic change Page 25 of 34 People don’t realize that when you have been in a homeless situation for a while, it takes you a while to get back into societal living. When I had my own place to stay, every worry that I had, just left my body. Rick y Page 26 of 34 At the shelter, they care about you, they will provide you with resources and they will help you get your own place. You just need to be willing to help yourself and accept the support Ariel Page 27 of 34 Contact Us contact@humilityhomes.org 519 Fillmore Street Davenport (563)326-1330 www.humilityhomes.org Page 28 of 34 Coordinated Response to Addressing the Housing Crisis Cecelia Bailey Executive Director cbailey@qcopennetwork.org Page 29 of 34 THE PROBLEM Our partners meet people in flight or fight mode everyday. It is nearly impossible to effectively communicate our needs in survival mode. Our stakeholders often seek quick outcomes from transactional relationships. Homelessness is not solved through transactional relationships. It is solved with trusted relationships, time and sustainable resources. With a strong collaborative social infrastructure and access to a flexible community fund our partners can mitigate homelessness. Page 30 of 34 Our Opportunity In 2023 QCON held many focus groups to determine barriers rental and housing assistance providers experience in getting clients help. Main findings: Severe lack of sufficient agency and program funds Shallow referrals: simply providing a number that may or may not be appropriate resulting in time wasted by all parties Complete lack of referral process in some cases Lack of awareness or access to other agency’s program eligibility or available services Practices that simply band-aid issues without addressing root causes and future planning; i.e. utilizing emergency funding without safely net plans or future mitigation plans Page 31 of 34 What Will Help Mapping Housing Collaboration Homelessness/eviction prevention Safety Net Funds Homeless mitigation Shelter Services Greater funds available to the sector for housing Rental assistance Cover related needs services used to prevent Covers the need of homelessness and immediate short Clearer referral protocols for homelessness adjacent needs term housing. covered with flex Requires more funds. diversion (program info and eligibility dollars. Requires more requirements viewable in IRIS to assist with funds. determining appropriateness of service) Collaborative Case Management Mainstream Services approach to Identifies both the Collaborate with housing addressing proper housing route Pool of flexible funds available to all agencies to specific agencies and housing insecurity for client and offset programs with hyper-strict and often flex dollars to help with adjacent needs. other connected needs from the non- Requires more funds government mandated eligibility rules for aside from housing. profit angle and supplemented miscellaneous needs of those waiting on the wages. Coordinated Entry (CE) list, and miscellaneous Advocacy Coordinated Entry Policy advocates for and rental assistance for those ineligible for CE Provides a collaborative space to Production, Preservation, Stand down payments to landlords from flex fund and Payment pieces of problem solve cases Silos to Solutions need to allowing time to process assistance and configure and enter specifically homeless clients into be identified as the best route for the client housing. collaborators. Page 32 of 34 Our Opporunity Current Envisioned We have an opportunity to add neutral and easily accessible access points to community resources through the libraries, school districts, and participating service providers. Page 33 of 34 If the actions we are taking are not getting us to our goal of limiting homelessness, we need to adjust our actions. These are simply suggested starting points in trying to make a change towards more effective processes. It will likely take shifting and adjusting to improve. In their research study titled, Learning from Emergency Rental Assistance Programs: Lessons from Fifteen Case Studies, Aiken et al. (2021) claim, “One clear overarching theme that applied to all sites was that administrators needed to adjust programs over time as challenges inevitably arose, even with well-crafted programs.” Still, we need to get moving towards some sort of solution, even if it may not be perfect or may need to be adjusted as we go! The issues and needs are clear - it’s time to act towards solutions. Page 34 of 34