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It’s been a long winter for Hesed House Executive Director Joe Jackson, and not just because the Aurora homeless shelter was, even with its partially renovated facility across the road at 680 S. River St., filled to near or full capacity for much of the last six months.
Or because those guests included a record number of families seeking shelter and food in the wake of a long pandemic and rising inflation.
What also kept Jackson up at night was the prolonged wait for $1.62 million in federal grant money that the shelter was counting on to continue phase two of its largest expansion project ever, turning a 40,000-square-foot former mattress factory into a new and improved shelter for a burgeoning homeless population.
But when the $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill, which included the Aurora shelter’s funding, got stalled in the U.S. Senate last August, Jackson’s worry lines got deeper. And time was running out because Hesed House had to use its combined $1.78 million in COVID-relief grants from Kane and DuPage counties by the end of March or risk losing that money.
And so, with only funding from this CARES Act cash and private donations in hand, Hesed House did what this nonprofit has been known for since it was founded by a group of local churches in 1982: It took a leap of faith. And at the beginning of this month ground was broken on the project’s 15,000- square-foot second phase, tearing apart the entire ground floor of the back end of the building, filling in the basement area and laying new flooring and cement for the dock.
If the federal grant money did not come in, Jackson said, “we’d be doing a lot of pivoting and a lot more work” trying to finish the project.
That’s why the night of March 10 was especially excruciating, as he lay in bed live streaming the critical Senate vote on this massive spending bill, with wife Tricia next to him sleeping, or should I say, “trying” to get some shut-eye as her husband anxiously watched the debate.
“I was a nervous wreck,” Jackson recalled, as “quite a few senators proposed pulling out our funding,” then having to wait for the arduous and overly-complicated recount process.
Jackson admitted to a “lot of foot-shaking” and “muttering things” under his breath. But when the 68-31 vote was officially announced, he got so excited that all his jumping and yelling woke up the couple’s two young daughters.
“There were definitely tears in my eyes because I know what this means to our guests,” he said. “The fact this came through at the last minute was nothing short of miraculous.”
It all became more real for Jackson and his staff when he met with U.S. Rep. Bill Foster’s staff on Thursday morning to iron out the logistics and learn the check will be presented by Foster in April. Then its full speed ahead on this project that, when completed by late fall or early winter, will not only add a commercial kitchen and dining area to the already existing space but will provide shelter for close to 300 adult guests, a 54% increase in overall capacity for Hesed House.
That, in turn, will free up space in the original shelter across the street that will double the number of families who can be served.
“It’s been a lot of work and a lot of nervous nights,” Jackson said of the “huge weight” that’s been lifted from his shoulders. “But there’s also been a lot of blessings.”
Which may – or may not – allow the Hesed House leader to rest easier.
Because of COVID-related burnout, the shelter has lost staff, Jackson told me, which must be replaced. And with the virus now laying low, the nonprofit is gearing up for the return of its 8,000 volunteers, which is a major bonus but will require considerable effort to mobilize again.
Plus, “every night” he worries about those still on the street or who may end up there. Across Kane County, only 5% of rental units are available, and rising rents are “pricing out a lot of people,” Jackson pointed out.
While this new shelter “will be life changing” and provide more dignity for the homeless, it will need more help, more funds to keep it operating.
“Hesed House has been a labor of love since the beginning,” Jackson said. “And we will continue to rely on the amazing community support we’ve had for 40 years.”
Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Chicago Tribune. It’s been a long winter for Hesed House Executive Director Joe Jackson, and not just because the Aurora homeless shelter was, even with its partially renovated facility across the road at 680 S. River St., filled to near or full capacity for much of the last six months. Or because those guests included a record number of families seeking shelter and food in the wake of a long pandemic and rising inflation. What also kept Jackson up at night was the prolonged wait for $1.62 million in federal grant money that the shelter was counting on to continue phase two of its largest expansion project ever, turning a 40,000-square-foot former mattress factory into a new and improved shelter for a burgeoning homeless population. But when the $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill, which included the Aurora shelter’s funding, got stalled in the U.S. Senate last August, Jackson’s worry lines got deeper. And time was running out because Hesed House had to use its combined $1.78 million in COVID-relief grants from Kane and DuPage counties by the end of March or risk losing that money. And so, with only funding from this CARES Act cash and private donations in hand, Hesed House did what this nonprofit has been known for since it was founded by a group of local churches in 1982: It took a leap of faith. And at the beginning of this month ground was broken on the project’s 15,000- square-foot second phase, tearing apart the entire ground floor of the back end of the building, filling in the basement area and laying new flooring and cement for the dock. If the federal grant money did not come in, Jackson said, “we’d be doing a lot of pivoting and a lot more work” trying to finish the project. That’s why the night of March 10 was especially excruciating, as he lay in bed live streaming the critical Senate vote on this massive spending bill, with wife Tricia next to him sleeping, or should I say, “trying” to get some shut-eye as her husband anxiously watched the debate. “I was a nervous wreck,” Jackson recalled, as “quite a few senators proposed pulling out our funding,” then having to wait for the arduous and overly-complicated recount process. Jackson admitted to a “lot of foot-shaking” and “muttering things” under his breath. But when the 68-31 vote was officially announced, he got so excited that all his jumping and yelling woke up the couple’s two young daughters. “There were definitely tears in my eyes because I know what this means to our guests,” he said. “The fact this came through at the last minute was nothing short of miraculous.” It all became more real for Jackson and his staff when he met with U.S. Rep. Bill Foster’s staff on Thursday morning to iron out the logistics and learn the check will be presented by Foster in April. Then its full speed ahead on this project that, when completed by late fall or early winter, will not only add a commercial kitchen and dining area to the already existing space but will provide shelter for close to 300 adult guests, a 54% increase in overall capacity for Hesed House. That, in turn, will free up space in the original shelter across the street that will double the number of families who can be served. “It’s been a lot of work and a lot of nervous nights,” Jackson said of the “huge weight” that’s been lifted from his shoulders. “But there’s also been a lot of blessings.” Which may – or may not – allow the Hesed House leader to rest easier. Because of COVID-related burnout, the shelter has lost staff, Jackson told me, which must be replaced. And with the virus now laying low, the nonprofit is gearing up for the return of its 8,000 volunteers, which is a major bonus but will require considerable effort to mobilize again. Plus, “every night” he worries about those still on the street or who may end up there. Across Kane County, only 5% of rental units are available, and rising rents are “pricing out a lot of people,” Jackson pointed out. While this new shelter “will be life changing” and provide more dignity for the homeless, it will need more help, more funds to keep it operating. “Hesed House has been a labor of love since the beginning,” Jackson said. “And we will continue to rely on the amazing community support we’ve had for 40 years.”