Who We Are
Shelter Care Ministries was established in 1984 as an outreach ministry of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in response to the growing population of people experiencing homelessness in downtown Rockford. The organization launched with a Saturday soup kitchen, and when the need for shelter became readily apparent, it opened a family shelter in partnership with like-minded organizations. This was followed by the Jubilee Center—a drop-in center for adults with mental illness who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. In 1985, Shelter Care was incorporated as an independent non-profit.
In 1994, Shelter Care initiated a scattered-site Emergency and Transitional Housing program for families experiencing homelessness. This program has since expanded to 20 furnished apartments that specifically serve families with minor children, enabling them to remain together while adults work toward stability. The housing services continued to grow with the addition of Permanent Supportive Housing for families in 2012 and Rapid Rehousing in 2016. In 2023, Shelter Care broadened its housing options to include single individuals living with serious mental illness. Today, an average of 60 households reside in Shelter Care’s Supportive Housing Program each night.
History Timeline
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 its 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 the Jubilee designation by the National Episcopal Church.
1986
• Shelter Care ends its relationship with The Open Doors Mission.
• Jan Wanninger hired as part-time program coordinator.
• Shelter Care becomes funded through 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 as Rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church.
1989
• Jubilee Center extends hours; opens five days a week.
• First Spring Luncheon
• Family Programming 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 are provided to homeless families.
2005
• Shelter Care became the managing partner for MAYA’S House, which was started by the Junior League of Rockford in 2002.
2007
• Shelter Care became the sole administrator of MAYA’S House daycare.
2010
• Awarded Permanent Supportive Housing Program through HUD, for 4 additional families where one parent has a disability.
2012
• Contracts with MedMan Creative to develop branding for a new vision, mission, and website.
• Receives the new application funding through the Continuum of Care to serve 5 Veteran families.
2013
• Careers Etc., a life and employment readiness program, is acquired by Shelter Care; families housed by Shelter Care and members of Jubilee begin attending sessions.
2014
• Funding for Careers Etc. ends due to a reprioritization by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Shelter Care aggressively fundraises to keep the program operating.
• Reprioritized money from Careers Etc. is distributed equally among three local providers of housing for the homeless. Shelter Care receives $33,000 to launch a new Permanent Supportive Housing program for chronically homeless families. 3 additional families are served with the funding.
2015
• Robert Parker retires after 24 years as the Director of Jubilee Center.
• Careers Etc. program closes.
• With the help of many generous supporters, Shelter Care endures the State of Illinois budget impasse for 11-1/2 months.
2016
• Shelter Care receives additional HUD Continuum of Care funding to start providing Rapid Rehousing to homeless families. Programming begins in November, and by year’s end, 8 families are accepted into the program.
2021
• Towards the end of the pandemic, with a decreased need for part-time child care, MAYA’S House permanently closes.
• The Jubilee Center is awarded a grant from the Winnebago County Community Mental Health Board (WCCMHB) to begin a member-outreach and housing stability program.
2023
• Shelter Care is awarded funding from HUD for a new Permanent Supportive Housing program for single adults living with serious mental illness. This is the first time providing housing to households other than families.
2024
• Shelter Care is awarded two new grants from the State of Illinois to offer more Permanent Supportive and Rapid Rehousing to families. Shelter Care is now housing 65 households every single night.
2025
• Funding from HUD for single-person Permanent Supportive Housing is terminated, but the State of Illinois awards additional funding for both Permanent and Transitional Housing for single people experiencing homelessness, so no one loses their housing.
2026
• The Jubilee Center partners with the University of Illinois Chicago – Rockford to provide on-site primary medical care to Jubilee members.
