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 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 Care ends 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.
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.
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 web site.
• 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 homeless. Shelter Care receives $33,000 to start a new Permanent Supportive Housing program for families who are chronically homeless. 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.
2020
• Housing and services at Jubilee continue throughout the pandemic, MAYA’S House closes for part of the year, reopening in September
2021
• Supportive Housing expands to house an additional 2-3 families per night
• MAYA’S House closes