How Shelter Care Came Into Existence

1981
♦  Emmanuel Episcopal Church began to realize the plight of men with mental illness wandering the streets of Rockford.

1982
♦  Father James Cardone becomes the Rector at Emmanuel
♦  Emmanuel Soup Kitchen is started.

1984
♦  Recession impact increases homelessness
♦  Emmanuel Parishioners are trained to help at the Open Doors Mission

1985
♦  Family homelessness increases significantly
♦  Shelter Care Ministries is incorporated on July 22nd.
♦  Shelter Care receives first grant from Public Aid for a six month pilot program with the Open Doors Mission for $24,000
♦  Rev. Robert Hensley becomes program Coordinator
♦  Shelter Care receives Jubilee designation by the National Episcopal Church

1986
♦  Shelter ends relationship with The Open Doors Mission
♦  Jan Wanninger hired as part-time program coordinator
♦  Shelter Care becomes  funded through Emmanuel Episcopal Charities

1987
♦  Stewart McKinney Homeless Assistance Act passes creating 15 funded programs to serve individuals who are homeless and creates definitions for homelessness.  Families are not included in the Act.
♦  Jubilee Center opens on Sundays from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
♦  Rev. Cardone leaves

1989
♦  Jubilee center extends hours; opens five days a week
♦  First Spring Luncheon
♦  Family Programing begins

1990
♦  Rockford Affordable Housing Coalition formed

1991
♦  Robert Parker hired as the Director of Jubilee Center

1994
♦  Pilot Program for transitional housing through Illinois Department of Public Aid

1995
♦  HUD funding for transitional housing
♦  First Harvest Fest

1996
♦  Welfare Reform law is signed into Law
♦  6 emergency units/4 transitional units

1997
♦  State removes people who abuse substance from SSI benefits
♦  Children with disabilities are removed from SSI
♦  The network that supports people who are marginalized now puts them at greater risk of harm.

1998
♦  Dorothy Harrison Retires after 11 years as Shelter Care Secretary

Between 1999 and 2010
♦  Shelter Care sustained the organization through the early years of the recession and continued to provide the steady dependable programing that served members and residents.

2010
♦  Awarded Permanent Supportive Housing Program through HUD, for 6 additional families where one adult has a disability.

 2011
♦  Receives the new application funding through the Continuum of Care to serve 10 additional Veteran Families.

2012
♦  Develops the Advisory Team, comprised of local leaders to provide direction for Shelter Care’s vision to expand housing by 26 units.
♦  Contracts with MedMan Creative to develop branding for a new vision, mission and web site.