Our address has changed!
Staff hours vary due to client outreach efforts. Please call us at 815-942-3245 or submit a shelter request by clicking on “Learn More” to make an appointment.
Donations checks can be mailed to:
“Grundy Area PADS” at 1409 N. Division St. Morris, IL 60450
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: EMERGENCY SHELTER WILL ONLY OPEN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS 32 DEGREES OR LOWER FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS.
Our mission has always been to provide safe, warm shelter for Grundy citizens during the coldest times of the year. Due to funding limitations, we have had to make the difficult decision to reserve our funding to provide ONLY “cold weather shelter” in order to preserve as many lives as possible when the cold weather is at its most dangerous.
We encourage anyone in need of shelter to contact us for information on available community resources and referrals for other shelter options.
Message From The Director
November 18, 2022
Dear Friends,
This time of year is a particularly difficult one for us here at Grundy Area PADS. While we were able to help many households last season, we still only had the resources to assist 46% of those who reached out to us for help. This year's shelter will be further limited due to the decrease in available funding and the toll that inflation is taking on all of us. A large barrier that prevents us from helping more people is the shortage of apartments available for the people we help. While over half of those in our shelter last year had income, housing in their price range was out of reach in Grundy County. According to a recent report, Grundy County is the third most expensive area to live in Illinois and renters would have to work over 76 hours per week just to be able to afford rent on their own (Out of Reach 2022, NLIHC). Grundy PADS runs a housing program to assist our clients in paying rent while we work with them to increase their income - this helps our clients develop the independent skills they need to regain their stability. However, because we didn't have enough landlord partners last year over $70,000 in grant money reserved for rent payments went unspent.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! If you are a local landlord or know a local landlord, we want to partner with YOU!! Grundy Area PADS is NOT Section 8 Housing -- we offer reliable and timely rent payments each month, complete weekly unit inspections, coach our clients on how to be good tenants and neighbors, and provide 24/7 client mediation and dispute resolution as needed. If you're a landlord, please reach out to us at Janice@grundypads.org or 915-942-3245 to learn more about our housing program!
Phil Wardlow, Vice President, of Grundy Area PADS; and Eric Fisher, Executive Director, of We Care of Grundy County, worked together on a grant that provides funding for both organizations that will help people in Grundy County who are experiencing homelessness find shelter and those who need help to prevent homelessness through rent assistance.