HACC, FirstFollowers and FirstSteps

The Housing Authority of Champaign County has been in the news recently for their role in new reentry housing pilot program in collaboration with the FirstFollowers Re-entry Program as well as a recent federal funding announcement (more information on that funding from WCCU here). This post has information and links about the reentry housing pilot program. WCCU had an overview of the program and a video segment with interviews with FirstFollowers founder Marlon Mitchell. From their article last week:

FirstFollowers staff said it will be an adjustment. Residents will have their own room, a place to work out and a newfound sense of freedom. But the house will be supervised 24/7.

“They won't have those worries of where I’m going to sleep tomorrow? What am I going to eat tomorrow? Where am I going to work tomorrow?" Mitchell said.

FirstFollowers case managers will come up with a plan for each resident to help with anything from education or a job.

More from the full article here, including a video segment. More from the FirstSteps web page:

FirstFollowers has partnered with the Housing Authority of Champaign County to open FirstSteps Community House, a transitional residence for people coming home from men's prisons. The house officially opened in December of 2019.
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FirstSteps offers a program for success. Our FirstFollowers peer mentors, who have been through the criminal justice system themselves and found that path to success, will support each resident on their journey back into the community. The house will be rent free for those who are admitted. 

More at that web page including an application link and additional information on groups who collaborated on the effort. The News-Gazette had additional details and interviews in their coverage last week:

Kilgore, the advocacy and outreach director for FirstFollowers, said the idea was sparked by the results of a community survey showed that 83 percent of respondents believed authorities should provide transitional housing. When David Northern took over as head of the housing authority, with transitional housing already on his agenda, a proposal was created and the partnership between FirstFollowers and HACC was born.

FirstFollowers was given money to renovate the house, and Kilgore said all of the work was done by men who have been through the program...

The house is owned by the housing authority, and FirstFollowers is responsible for utilities, although Kilgore said once residents are employed, they will be expected to contribute at least 10 percent of each paycheck toward utility bills. There are four bedrooms for residents and a fifth for an overnight supervisor.

That full article here.