ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — The city held a community relations commission to discuss the current state of homelessness.
The goal was to get a better picture of who is on the streets and who is in danger of being on the street.
Last year, over 200 people applied for housing assistance, and many of them were living with relatives.
Staff with Rosecrance Health say they have helped with relocating people to family outside the community.
“We have helped people who are homeless get home to their family,” said Clinical Team Lead Chris Nichols. “We’ve helped them obtain bus tickets back to Chicago, we’ve sent people to Iowa, and Arizona. As long as they’ve got a family member with an address at that location, we can work with human services. That’s been helpful in getting those bus tickets and reunite with their family,”
Another commission meeting is scheduled for next month. Board members say one of their main focuses is implementing a plan to prevent residents struggling financially from losing housing.