News

Soup & More Community Meals Return

December 16, 2022, Macomb, Illinois — Soup & More community meals are returning. With a “soft opening” scheduled for mid-December, we look forward to seeing everyone. Please sign up through our Facebook page if you’d like to come for the soft opening. Everyone is welcome. We want to ensure we have the right amount of food to serve for the meal!

Rapid Re-housing Initiatives

May 15, 2021, Macomb, Illinois — When Genesis House emergency family shelter was forced to close by the COVID-19 pandemic, Genesis Garden shifted focus to planning, with a series of questions. “How can we best support and empower people as they address a housing crisis? Can a crisis be seen as an opportunity for transformation? Beyond emergency housing, what else is crucial?” Empowering, supportive community relationships and “rapid re-housing” were identified as foundational.

Rapid re-housing refers to support with short-term rental assistance and services. The goals are to help people obtain housing quickly, increase self- sufficiency, and stay housed. It is offered without preconditions (such as employment, income) while resources and services are tailored to the individual needs and goals of the person or family.  Genesis Garden’s President Melissa Calhoun says, “With an over-abundance of rental housing in Macomb, along with the ability to simultaneously support more people, this approach is a win-win for the Macomb community.”

With the advent of COVID-19 vaccinations, Genesis House emergency shelter is open again.  Those experiencing housing crises now also have an opportunity for rapid rehousing. Genesis Garden has secured over $125,000 in state and federal funding to support the programs over the next 18 months.

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