Heartland Continuum of Care

08/20/2026

Housing Action's David Young recently joined Fox 32 Chicago to discuss why there are such low rates of home construction in Illinois and how zoning and NIMBYism affect our ability to build new affordable homes.

Check out the full segment: https://www.fox32chicago.com/video/fmc-n0dyeqcnziups3io

08/14/2026

Finding housing can feel overwhelming, especially when listings change quickly or affordable units are limited. If you’re looking for a rental in Springfield or the greater Sangamon County area, check out our Rental Resources page! 🏠

You can find local housing search tools, tips for avoiding rental scams, information on tenant rights and legal aid during a housing crisis, and other resources that can help make the rental search a little easier.

Find rentals, affordable housing, and housing resources in Springfield and Sangamon County, including scam prevention tips and local assistance.

08/07/2026

SIU Medicine's Street Medicine initiative is an important new service available in Springfield. We are grateful for all the work and effort that went into launching it and even more grateful for the incredible team doing the work!

A new SIU Street Medicine Program is bringing healthcare directly to people experiencing homelessness in Springfield through mobile outreach. See link below ⬇️

📸 Provided by SIU Medicine

08/06/2026

Celebration in the park is TOMORROW, and EVERYONE in the community is invited! We will have a table sharing information and resources on Housing, Food, and Narcan distribution. Be sure to stop by Comer Cox for delicious food, great music, fun games, and generous giveaways! Hope to see you there!

Come celebrate the 5th Annual Celebration in the Park with us!

This free community event includes food, music, games, giveaways, free haircuts, and a variety of local service providers.

We'll be there sharing housing and community resources and helping connect individuals and families with services throughout Sangamon County. If you have questions about housing, food assistance, or other local resources, stop by our table and say hello.

Friday, August 7
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Comer Cox Park
301 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (Pavilion near the splash pad)
Rain location: The Salvation Army, 1600 E. Clear Lake Ave.

We hope to see you there!

08/04/2026

We are excited to be part of the 2nd Annual Rooted in Resources Community & Family Resource Fair!

Join us for a day focused on connecting our community with valuable resources, wellness services, and local organizations. We'll be there sharing information on housing resources, food assistance, and other programs available throughout Sangamon County. Stop by the Heartland HOUSED table! We would love to meet you and help connect you with the resources and support you need.

Saturday, August 15, 2026
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church
1800 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Springfield, IL

We look forward to seeing you there and connecting with our community! 💙

08/03/2026

If you have recently lost your SNAP benefits, Illinois has launched the FRESH Program to help eligible families. Click below to learn more.

Illinois is launching the Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) program to help eligible Illinoisans who lost SNAP benefits due to recent federal work requirement changes.

Beginning August 1, eligible individuals can automatically receive a one-time $400 benefit per eligible household member – no application required.

Learn more about eligibility, benefit timing, and available resources in this press release: https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/governor-pritzker-launches-fresh-program-to-support-up-to-175000-illinoisans-the-trump-administration-kicked-off-snap

07/28/2026

Come celebrate the 5th Annual Celebration in the Park with us!

This free community event includes food, music, games, giveaways, free haircuts, and a variety of local service providers.

We'll be there sharing housing and community resources and helping connect individuals and families with services throughout Sangamon County. If you have questions about housing, food assistance, or other local resources, stop by our table and say hello.

Friday, August 7
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Comer Cox Park
301 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (Pavilion near the splash pad)
Rain location: The Salvation Army, 1600 E. Clear Lake Ave.

We hope to see you there!

07/15/2026

07/09/2026

🚨 FY2026 Heartland Continuum of Care HUD NOFO Competition is Now Open

The Heartland Continuum of Care (IL-513) has officially launched our local competition for the FY2026 HUD Continuum of Care Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

We encourage both existing partners and eligible organizations that have never applied for HUD CoC funding before to consider submitting projects that strengthen our community's response to homelessness.

Approximately $1.31 million is expected to be available through the Heartland CoC competition, including:
• Tier 1: $382,615.80
• Tier 2: $927,255.60
• CoC Bonus: $500,000
• DV Bonus: $172,178.40
• CoC Planning: $50,000

Our competition webpage has been updated with everything applicants need, including:
✅ Competition timeline
✅ Project applications
✅ Competition policies
✅ Rating & Ranking Committee information
✅ Scoring tools
✅ Technical Assistance webinar recording
✅ Additional competition resources

Key Local Deadlines

📅 Wednesday, July 29 (5:00 PM)
All Renewal and New Project applications, along with supplemental documents, are due to Heartland HOUSED.

📅 Thursday, August 6
The Heartland Continuum of Care Board will review and approve the recommended ranked project list. Applicants will be notified in writing of their project's acceptance, reduction, or rejection.

If you have questions during the application process, please submit them through the Competition Question Form available on our competition webpage.

We look forward to working with our partners to bring additional housing resources to our community.

https://www.heartlandhoused.org/fy26-hcoc-hud-nofo-competition