Illinois Shelter Village Aids Homeless Transition
Why this is here: The Bridge distinguishes itself from traditional shelters by having few restrictions on residency, excluding those convicted of sex offenses, and prioritizing a sense of hope—shifting residents’ focus from daily survival to future accomplishments.
Bloomington, Illinois opened “The Bridge,” a shelter village offering private cabins to people experiencing homelessness. The village, which cost $2.7 million, features 48 tiny houses accommodating up to 56 adults. Two-thirds of the funding came from private donations, with the remainder from a county grant.
The initiative arose from a growing housing shortage and increased homelessness, initially visible through a tent encampment in a downtown church parking lot. Home Sweet Home Ministries, a local nonprofit, modeled The Bridge after successful shelter villages in Burlington, Vermont, Denver, Colorado, Missoula, Montana and Austin, Texas.
Since opening, fifty-five people have moved into The Bridge, including Matthew Stone and his dog. Stone noted the cabins offer private space and amenities like microwaves and refrigerators. The ministry reports a decrease in the number of people living unsheltered in the city.