Lake County Coalition for the Homeless

04/02/2026

The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States.

03/30/2026

Join us for a 2-hour Empathy & Action Training focused on practical tools for supporting others while taking care of yourself.

The training was developed with input from PLEE Coalition members to keep it grounded in real perspectives.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Hybrid (in-person and virtual)

CEUs available. Scan the QR code to register.

01/23/2026

Update on the 2026 Unsheltered PIT

Each year, Lake County Coalition for the Homeless volunteers spend one night in January counting unsheltered people experiencing homelessness in Lake County. An unsheltered count is required by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development every other year, though Lake County has historically done it every year. However, due to recently announced changes in federal funding that have shifted staff attention to ensuring critical continuation of programming, the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless, in partnership with Lake County Community Development, will not conduct the unsheltered portion of the annual Point-In-Time (PIT) Count in January 2026. This decision reflects a careful balance between current realities and our commitment to maintaining high-quality data and a stable local homeless response system.

While this unsheltered count will not take place in 2026, the Continuum of Care team and Homeless Management Information System Administrator will still complete all required data collection for people experiencing homelessness who are staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing and permanent housing programs.

We remain confident that the sheltered count and housing inventory data collected will provide valuable information to support planning and informed decision-making across Lake County.

A summary of the 2026 Point-In-Time and Housing Inventory data will be released in spring 2026.

For questions, please contact Malin Gembra, Continuum Care Coordinator, at [email protected].

10/06/2025

We are inviting volunteers to join a taskforce to update the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless Bylaws to include a Persons with Lived Experience or Expertise (PLEE) Advisory Council. We are especially looking for members with lived experience or expertise who can offer valuable insights.

Here’s what participation involves:
• Meet weekly for about an hour
• Work together to review and edit the bylaws
• Goal: Have a draft ready to present to the full board on November 4th

All PLEE members are eligible for compensation for participation. For more information see PLEE Compensation Guidelines.

https://www.lakecountyhomeless.org/lived-experience?mc_cid=53a69e37a3&mc_eid=c6346e2e2e

If you’re interested, please fill out the survey below.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9WxT3f2S_0KnVOmGZst6ll80umvQcZtIqOmJf-ifz3NUMUxZS0xTTUk1RE9TUUdBRE9SSVdCUlhUSS4u

Your input will help ensure our governance reflects our commitment to supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

08/29/2025

This past week, providers from across Lake County gathered for our annual Lake County Coalition for the Homeless Picnic. More than just a time of fellowship, this event helps strengthen partnerships, foster collaboration, and build lasting relationships among providers.

By working together, we can better coordinate services and respond to the needs of our unhoused neighbors with compassion and efficiency.

We are deeply grateful to all providers, partners, and community members for their continued dedication to ending homelessness in Lake County.

06/20/2025

Please Join the Lake County Bridge to Housing!!

You're Invited: Lunch, Learn, & Lease – July 23!
Don’t miss this dynamic event designed to inform and connect! Join us for a complimentary lunch and an engaging presentation highlighting the exclusive benefits of renting to our tenants.
You'll also have the opportunity to network with fellow Housing Providers and explore valuable partnerships during our Resource Fair, featuring key members of our Coalition.
📅 Date: July 23
Time: 11:30 am – 2:00pm
📍 Location: Catholic Charities 101 N. Cedar Lake Rd Round Lake, IL
💬 Networking • Insights • Opportunities
This is a great chance to expand your knowledge, grow your network, and discover how leasing through our programs can work for you.
Feel free to share this invitation—we look forward to seeing you there!

05/29/2025

05/14/2025

The results from the most recent annual assessment of unhoused individuals in Lake County are now available. This assessment, called the Lake County Point-in-Time Count, is a count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night every January. The annual count occurs not just in Lake County, but in counties across the United States.

This year’s Point-in-Time Count recorded a total of 561 individuals experiencing homelessness across the entirety of Lake County. While this total reflects a decrease from last year’s count of 705, it remains one of the highest counts in over a decade.

Homelessness is a complex issue with multiple data systems needed to obtain an accurate picture of the overall problem.

Learn more: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ILLAKE/bulletins/3e013da

03/07/2025

Attention property owners, landlords, and property managers: Join the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless for our Bridge to Housing networking event next Wednesday. This is a valuable opportunity to connect with our Housing Navigators and market your available units. We invite you to enjoy a complimentary pastry or coffee at Euforia Café as part of the event.

02/14/2025

Calling all property partners, landlords, and property mangers! Join the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless' Bridge to Housing to network and market your units to our Housing Navigators! Enjoy a pastry on us at Euforia Café !

02/04/2025

Lake County Community Development is hiring for a Continuum of Care Program Specialist! This role staffs and supports the efforts of the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless. We're looking to fill this role as soon as possible, so apply today!

This position involves significant responsibility in facilitating coalition meetings, managing and improving data processes, and coordinating multiple improvement initiatives for the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless meetings. This role requires both independent work and collaboration with inte...