TA Center - Illinois Plan to Prevent & End Homelessness

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), through its Division of Family and Community Services (DFCS), is administering the "TA Center - Illinois Plan to Prevent & End Homelessness" initiative. This program supports the creation and operation of the Illinois Homelessness Education and Technical Assistance Center, a dedicated resource hub aimed at addressing homelessness and housing insecurity across the state. The Center will serve as a centralized provider of technical assistance, offering both in-person and remote training opportunities tailored to the unique needs of various organizations engaged in homelessness and housing work. It is expected to become an essential vehicle for disseminating knowledge and improving the capacity of grantees, community-based providers, and other stakeholders involved in statewide homelessness initiatives. The core objective of the program is to expand the operational effectiveness and knowledge base of entities working to prevent and reduce homelessness in Illinois. The Technical Assistance Center will provide comprehensive education on the rights of individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability. It will also cover best practices in program models, design, and evaluation, as well as prevention strategies, funding navigation, and housing-related services. This grant supports both one-on-one agency support and group technical assistance sessions, underscoring a flexible approach to strengthening provider capabilities. This grant is non-competitive and is primarily available to government and nonprofit organizations. The application process details, including criteria for proposal selection and submission steps, are not specified in the current program summary. However, the program includes provisions for annual reporting, and grantees are required to maintain detailed financial and programmatic records for three years post-final report submission. Grantees will also be subject to audit standards outlined in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and the Code of Federal Regulations, as adopted by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget for Illinois. Funding for the initiative spans fiscal years 2024 through 2026, with escalating support: $2,000,000 allocated for each of the first two years and $3,058,216 projected for FY 2026. One current active award of $3,855,918 was issued to the Supportive Housing Providers Association for the period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. While the funding is provided by the State of Illinois and is not federally sourced, the program requirements closely mirror federal auditing and reporting guidelines, reflecting the state’s commitment to accountability and transparency. Renewals under this program are not guaranteed and are subject to the discretion of IDHS, dependent on grantee performance. The program emphasizes outcome tracking and continuous improvement, with annual progress reports required under relevant statutes. Although no matching funds or cost share obligations are stated, grantees must adhere to rigorous documentation standards. Technical support and guidance are expected to be ongoing, as this TA Center aims to build long-term institutional knowledge and implementation capacity across Illinois communities. The point of contact for the program is Angela Campo, who can be reached at [email protected] or 217/361-4445. While no formal NOFO or detailed application guidance has been published, the program's structure and funding trajectory indicate that future funding rounds may follow a similar timeline. Given the nature of the grant and the recurring multi-year budget allocations, it is likely to operate on an annual basis, with the next anticipated application cycle expected in early 2027, assuming continued funding.