Notice of Usage and Disclosure
Grundy Area PADS is in partnership with the Will County CoC Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
HMIS is a project of United Way of Will County in partnership with organizations in Will, Kendall, and Grundy Counties, Illinois that support or provide homeless, health care, medical, or social services to persons and families in need.
The Voice of Grundy Area PADS - SPOTLIGHT
At some point in time, society decided that it was okay to look down upon those who have nothing. Many people view our homeless population to be a menace but at the same time, many people don’t see our homeless as well. For Phil Wardlow, the curtain was pulled back for him on the topic of homelessness when he decided to volunteer along with a friend in 2014. It started with the idea to give back to his community by volunteering to be a chaperone at the Grundy Area PADS congregate shelter. In 2015, Phil was asked to be the Sunday night coordinator at the Peace Lutheran Church location where he got the opportunity to interface with the guest who come to stay. Through the interactions with the guest, Phil learned so much and came to realize how easy it is for a person to find themselves in this situation.
As Phil’s passion to help this homeless population grew, in 2016 Phil became a board member for Grundy PADS. At the time, PADS didn’t have additional programs to further assist shelter guests. It had bothered Phil that PADS would wish their guests at the congregate shelter well and be left to their own devices when the shelter would close during warm weather. When approached by members of the Continuum of Care about ‘Rapid Rehousing’ in 2017, Phil applied for a HUD grant. With the encouragement of the Grundy PADS board members and many supporters of his community, Grundy Area PADS places its first clients in apartments in 2018. Since then with case management and support to achieve self-sufficiency, Grundy Area PADS has assisted more than 50 individuals with a success rate estimated at 60%.
In this 21st century and with all its technological power to show different perspectives, CALL TO ACTION for homelessness is an opportune time for us humans to change how we treat and think about those who might not fit into our society. It’s time to get out of our old ways, it’s time to show compassion, get homelessness out from the shadows, and give the dignity of being recognized. Phil lived in his community for 40 years and never actually saw someone dealing with homelessness until he volunteered. Phil, now the Vice President of Grundy Area PADS states ‘there is a valuable lesson that we can learn from their experiences and he is proud to be a part of this call to action and looks forward to helping support as many people in his community.
Grundy Area PADS is Hosting the Liberty 5K!!!!
Grundy Area PADS is excited to announce that we will be hosting the LIBERTY 5K RUN/WALK this July 3rd!! We are delighted to take over for the Morris Downtown Development Partnership to maintain this great community tradition! The Liberty 5K is a chip-timed run on a certified course that takes runners through nostalgic Downtown Morris and area parks. There will be cash awards for winners, special awards for military personnel, and great finishers' medals for all participants!! Runner registration will be opening soon! Please check back with Grundy Area PADS to get all the latest updates!!
Check Out Our Latest Newsletter!!
Where We've Been, and Where We Are
October 14, 2021
There are 101 children without homes in Grundy County this school year, according to the Department of Education. Because many parents cannot afford the cost of living on their own, they are forced to stay with a series of friends and family, bringing their children into overcrowded and unsafe living conditions. Other parents are staying with their children in motels or camping grounds until their money runs out or the camping season ends.
Grundy Area PADS is dedicated to providing shelter and support to the families and individuals in our community who have no safe and stable place to rest their heads at night – but we need your help! We need the partnership of local landlords to help our neighbors return to stability, and the funds to help them with the services, assistance, and material items they need to get back on their feet.
Because every child in our community needs a bed of their own and a safe place to call home. Your support helps us to make this goal a reality!
Nothing Feels as Safe as a Home
"I'm so glad to be safe again," she said. Most of us cannot imagine how it feels to live in the shadows, hoping not to be discovered so that you won't have to move your tent, again. This week, our new Rapid Re-housing program helped one client with serious health issues lay her head down at night in her very own bed in her very own apartment. She no longer has to look over her shoulder and wonder when she will be asked to "move along," and for the first time in 8 months, she can begin to focus on health, healing and getting a job in her new hometown. Wouldn't you like to be a part of this important work in our community? We really need your help! Our shelters open on Oct 15 and we still need about 30 more volunteers in order for them to be open every day. One four-hour shift, once a month is all we ask. Please call us at 815-942-3245 or email denise@grundypads.org if you can help.
You Can Be a HERO!
BE A HERO! Our homeless shelter season starts Oct. 15. We have about half of the volunteers we need. If we don't have enough volunteers, it is possible the shelter will not be able to open some nights. Can you help? One four hour shift each month is all we ask. Just like a superhero, you will be saving people's lives. Better than a superhero...this is not a movie, these are real people. If you can help...please Comment below, send a PM, call our office at 815-942-3245 or send an email to denise@grundypads.org and let us know you want to take a shift and be a hero!
You Are Perfect!
PADS Shelter Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes, and YOU are the perfect size and shape to fill one of our many shifts that have openings for 2018-19 season, which begins October 15. We know that most shifts end up depriving our dedicated volunteers of some sleep. That's why we ask that you just give four hours, one time each month. If everyone gives a little time, no one has to give a lot. It's very easy and rewarding work. You will be helping people stay warm and fed this winter. Please help! We need the most help on 2nd shift (10:45pm to 3am) and 3rd shift (2:45am to 7am)....any day of the week you are available for one of these shifts, please Comment below, send a private message to our page, call our office at 815-942-3245 or send an email to denise@grundypads.org. If you have questions or need more information, do not hesitate to call!
