City of Elgin, IL

06/11/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/11/2025 19:09

State Honors City of Elgin for Leadership in Homelessness Response

The state of Illinois honored the city of Elgin with the Recognition of Service for Local Government at the state's 2025 Home Illinois Summit. Christine Haley, Chief Homelessness Officer for the state, presented the award in recognition of Elgin's leadership, innovation and compassionate response to homelessness.

Haley praised Elgin's swift and coordinated efforts following a series of fires at Tent City, an unsheltered encampment along the Fox River. With support from the state's Unsheltered Pilot Program, the city worked with the Association for Individual Development (AID) to relocate 42 individuals into hotel-based temporary housing, where they received trauma-informed care and wraparound services.

Haley also highlighted Elgin's commitment to long-term solutions, including the creation of a full-time homelessness response position in the City Manager's Office and the city's data-driven approach to addressing community needs. She described Elgin as a model for municipalities across the state.

"Leadership means preparing for the moment before it arrives. When the fires happened, we didn't scramble-we acted," said Elgin Mayor David Kaptain. "That's because our city staff and community partners had already laid the groundwork. Elgin is a community that believes in stepping up together. This recognition reminds us that meaningful change doesn't come from a single moment, it comes from a city choosing to lead differently."

"This effort has always been rooted in partnership - in listening, in trust, and in showing up for people too often overlooked," said Assistant City Manager Karina Nava. "It wasn't about managing a crisis; it was about laying the groundwork to respond with care. This is what becomes possible when local government leads with both vision and compassion."

The Recognition of Service for Local Government is awarded to municipalities that have made an outstanding contribution to their community through innovative programs and collaborative solutions.

From left: Elgin Homelessness Response Coordinator Jena Hencin, Mayor David Kaptain, Assistant City Manager Karina Nava, and Association for Individual Development President and CEO Lore Baker with the Recognition of Service for Local Government presented to the city of Elgin by the state of Illinois during the Home Illinois Summit on June 10, 2025.

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