Just about a year ago, Tanuel Major, known in the community as “Daisy,” was tragically murdered just outside these doors.

Just about a year ago, many of us from Connections joined this congregation and heard Pastor Grace, Pastor Jane and Pastor Bonnie name what had happened to Daisy. We heard them call upon us all to be awakened and to find a solution, to find a way to ensure this would never happen again.

Mike began volunteering at Connections more than 10 years ago and has been cooking breakfast for our shelter residents on most mornings ever since.

It takes a very special person to cook breakfast at our shelter, let alone cook breakfast 3 to 4 days a week. Mike’s in the kitchen at 5am – yes, 5 AM! - with all the groceries in hand.

New experiences, new friends, and a chance to "just be a kid" are all important ways that camp helps children in our housing programs overcome the trauma of homelessness that persists even after being housed.

​Below, you’ll find a piece we’ve created that captures photos of our campers, some of their reflections on their experience, and a few of the notes we received from their cabin counselors at the end of the week. ​

In addition to being in our permanent supportive housing program with her family for more than seven years, Laresa is an active member of Connections’ Program Committee, a committee of our Board of Directors. Her presence and perspective are invaluable to this committee, and we’re grateful for the many ways she contributes.

Laresa also volunteers with Connections, giving back whenever she can, including at our Drop In and mentoring other families in our housing program. Laresa has gone above and beyond to ensure other families have the support team they need to move forward.

Understanding the root causes and solutions to homelessness is complicated, which is why I was so grateful to be asked by Illinois Public Media to speak with Niala Boodhoo on The 21st, a statewide radio show, about the services Connections is providing, the challenges we face, and the need for affordable housing. You can click here to listen to the segment.

When Marsha came to us, she was already homeless. She and her two children were bouncing between friends, family, shelters, and on bad nights… her car. Despite the challenges, Marsha was maintaining a job. But her income wasn’t enough for her to get an apartment in an area that would keep her kids in their school. With Connections’ support, Marsha moved into an apartment and access employment, education, childcare, and transportation services to begin to stabilize and strengthen her family.

​We were thrilled to recently expand our housing program, adding 5 more units of supportive housing to help more families like Marsha’s move quickly from homelessness to housing. These additional units of housing provide short-term rent assistance, coupled with robust services, to prepare all members of the family for a strong, stable and secure future.

SAYING GOODBYE TO LISA TODD
​
It was standing room only as the community gathered on Thursday, May 16 to share memories of working with Lisa Todd, Connections’ Volunteer Coordinator, and to wish her well as she begins a new adventure in Minneapolis. For 9 years, Lisa developed and led Connections’ volunteer program – growing it to more than 1,300 individuals annually.

Stephanie joined our team of volunteers managing the front desk reception at our administrative offices at the time when was a role in transition and one that we were trying to staff completely with volunteers.

What we immediately saw in Stephanie was an ability to get things done, stay organized in the midst of an evolving system, and propose solutions for improvement. She has stayed with us through lots of change, helping strengthen our services to participants and our community.

992 people! Since expanding our drop-in services one year ago from two days per week to five, we have served 992 people and provided more than 24,000 services.

​This incredible growth in the number of people we are serving and the services we are providing is thanks to support of our community. From financial resources to in-kind donations to volunteer hours, it is our community that makes it possible for us to offer critical services to people who are homeless. Services we know they need and deserve, and services that we are proud to provide.  

Kurtis came to live at Connections’ transitional living program, Our House, in September of 2017. While in the house, Kurtis has been quick to take advantage of all the program offers. He participates in life skills and employment opportunities, engages in employment training programs, and connects to our clinical services to keep moving forward. 

Thalma Brooms, Youth Programs Manager, noted, "His eagerness and positive attitude have helped him overcome obstacles and move through tough moments. This is what I like about Kurtis. He keeps pushing after he’s been knocked down, and he always gets back up and finds a new way."