Homeless encampment in Bloomington to be moved in October

Posted on September 10, 2024

*The homeless encampment just outside Home Sweet Home Ministries in Bloomington.(Photo courtesy WMBD-TV)*

BLOOMINGTON – On Oct. 15, the homeless tent encampment will be moved from its current location next to Home Sweet Home Ministries into the Bloomington Salvation Army shelter.

“What we’ve been able to do with our neighbors right next door makes it really ease of access,” Leslie Bunge, Director of Development at Home Sweet Home Ministries said. “They can come in and utilize our junction during the day. They work with our street outreach coordinator to kind of get some help on maybe obtaining an I.D. or if they need help with medical services or medication or even those basic hygiene items and survival items.”

With the new change, Home Sweet Home’s building won’t be as easy to get to for those in the camp, but the non-profit is staying ready to help.

“I think it’s been a popular place out there because they’re right by us and they have ease of access,” Bunge said. “Now that’s going to come a little bit more detrimental for people, but Home Sweet Home is going to remain committed to doing our best to help them and meet them where they are.”

The City Manager of Bloomington said the council is seeing this as a people-first matter.

“This is an issue that touches all of us,” Jeff Jurgens, City Manager for the City of Bloomington said. “And this could be your brother or it could be your sister, or it could be your mother or father or your daughter or son. It could be your neighbor. And that’s how a lot of times the non-profits talk about the individuals that are experiencing homelessness. They’re our neighbors. And so we want to do what we can to help them.”

Bloomington is taking a different approach to homelessness than some other Central Illinois communities that have banned outdoor encampments.

“The city council, we don’t want to punish these individuals,” Jurgens said. “We want to help these individuals. I think our council’s been very clear on that. We’ve tried to approach this from a place of compassion. And that’s why I said we’re lucky to have our nonprofits that have been right there with us to help us do that.”

Eastview Christian Church is planning to contribute $50,000 towards factors of the move including, staffing, cots and bedding.

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