Peoria: South Side Office of Concern will be hosting an open house and ribbon cutting on Wednesday, August 20th at Veterans’ Haven, located at 711 NE Monroe Street. The open house is from 3:30 pm until 6:00 pm, with a program from 4:30 p.m. -5:00 p.m. that will include an Color Guard, blessing of the home, ribbon cutting ceremony with the Peoria Chamber of Commerce, and remarks from State Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth, U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos, Councilman W. Eric Turner, and Michael Steward, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Basic Supports, IL Dept. of Human Services.
Veterans’ Haven, located at 711 N. Monroe in Peoria, recently opened to serve as an Adult Living Center for homeless veterans with mental illness as they find an appropriate Permanent Supportive Housing unit in the community.
SSOC’s primary objective is to reduce the number of homeless veterans and the number of repeat episodes of homelessness. We intend to serve 20 – 35 homeless veterans annually in these 15 units of housing and to successfully place at least 75% of them into permanent housing.
The VA serves as the primary referral source for this program, as well as maintains authorization for program eligibility. The VA has several staff dedicated to serving homeless veterans that are housed in close proximity to SSOC at the Peoria Veteran’s Outpatient Clinic. Their staff will identify and approve program eligibility and actively collaborate with SSOC staff on individual client matters, including case staffings, appropriate interventions, and on-site services and coordination.