Heartland HOUSED Provides Annual Homelessness Update to Sangamon County Board

Heartland HOUSED Executive Director Josh Sabo provided an annual update to the Sangamon County Board this month, outlining current data, system capacity, and ongoing efforts to address homelessness in Sangamon County.

Heartland HOUSED was established following a communitywide strategic planning process that identified the need for a central organization to coordinate homelessness response efforts across the county. The organization serves as the county’s backbone agency, responsible for setting strategy, tracking outcomes, and identifying gaps in services among partner organizations.

During the presentation, Sabo shared data showing an increase in the number of people exiting homelessness in recent years. In 2019, local programs helped 94 individuals exit homelessness. In 2025, that number increased to 409. These outcomes are tied to expanded housing programs that combine rental assistance with case management, supporting individuals and families as they access income supports, healthcare, and other services while transitioning into permanent housing.

At the same time, the number of people accessing homelessness services in Sangamon County has continued to grow. In 2019, just over 1,200 individuals interacted with the county’s homelessness system. By 2025, that number had increased to 1,772. Sabo noted that rising housing costs continue to be a contributing factor, with fair-market rental rates increasing by approximately 48 percent since 2019.

The update also included system-wide developments, including Sangamon County becoming one of 11 communities nationwide to achieve “Quality Data” status through Community Solutions’ Built for Zero initiative. This designation reflects improvements in data accuracy and real-time tracking. Over the past year, county data showed eight months in which more people exited homelessness than entered the system.

Street outreach efforts have expanded over the past year with the addition of two full-time and two part-time outreach staff focused on engaging individuals who are unsheltered or intermittently sheltered. Outreach teams are currently working with 72 individuals in the community, many of whom face significant mental-health or healthcare challenges. Sabo also highlighted the HCOC Connect reporting tool, which allows residents and businesses to submit reports that help outreach workers locate and connect individuals with available services.

Sabo also discussed the Heartland Connect mobile app, which was developed to improve communication between the public and outreach teams. The app allows residents, businesses, and local officials to submit location-based reports when they encounter individuals who may be experiencing homelessness. Reports are routed directly to outreach staff, helping them respond more efficiently. County Board Chairman Andy VanMeter spoke positively about the app during the meeting and encouraged continued community awareness and use of the tool.

Looking ahead, Sabo outlined several initiatives planned for 2026, including a mid-point review of the county’s homelessness strategic plan, expanded coordination among healthcare providers to address complex care needs, and the completion of a youth homelessness needs assessment. He also discussed continued development of the Heartland Flexible Housing Pool, which raised more than $300,000 in 2025, and the Heartland Housing Helpline, which connects residents at risk of eviction with prevention resources.

County officials emphasized that efforts will continue to focus on increasing housing placements, strengthening prevention programs, and reducing the number of people entering homelessness each year.

Heartland County Board presentation