Park Forest may up homeless shelter effort

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Updated: March 24, 2012 9:04AM

Homewood, Chicago Heights and Park Forest are the top three contributors to an effort to construct and operate a homeless shelter scheduled to open in September in Country Club Hills, according to Mike Wasserberg, executive director of South Suburban Public Action to Deliver Shelter.

Wasserberg estimated Park Forest residents have contributed $103,000 since 1995 to the facility.

“Residents of Park Forest have been extremely gracious and kind in the support they’ve provided,” he said at Monday’s village board meeting. “This community has been great.”

For 16 years, residents have checked off $1 donations on their water bills to help pay for a permanent shelter for the homeless, he said.

Wasserberg said continued support is needed to pay for annual operating costs and support services that the shelter will provide to tenants, including youth programs, computer classes, employment readiness training, resume development and financial literacy classes. He estimated annual operating costs at $410,000 and support services at $350,000.

“With your encouragement,” he told board members, “Park Forest will take the lead” and keep on donating. “The costs will be ongoing. Our goal is to reinvigorate residents and to continue their donations toward the project.”

Mayor John Ostenburg said the village board may consider adding a $2-per-month check-off box on water bills to further support the shelter’s operation.

Wasserberg said the five-story, 75,000-square-foot facility is near 167th Street and Interstate 80, between Cicero Avenue and Pulaski Road. The building will have 77 apartments and house homeless families and individuals, victims of domestic violence, homeless veterans and others. The cost of construction is about $20.5 million.

Wasserberg reminded officials that the original PADS headquarters was in Park Forest in 1990. Between 2009 and 2011, PADS served 72 Park Forest families, totaling 1,994 nights of shelter and 3,832 meals, he said.