The Kane County Continuum of Care 2025 Homelessness Report and Needs Analysis has just been released, offering a comprehensive look at homelessness in Kane County and identifying key gaps and priorities for improving housing stability and health outcomes.
The report identifies gaps in available services, evaluates system performance and supports evidence-based decision making.
Key findings from the report include:
•Over 1,700 individuals experienced homelessness in 2024, with seniors, people with disabilities, and families experiencing domestic violence facing significant barriers to stable housing.
•Over 300 households sought emergency housing after fleeing domestic violence.
•An average of 367 people stay in emergency shelters each night.
•More than 350 children were housed in emergency shelters or transitional housing during the data collection period.
•The median length of stay in emergency shelters exceeds federal recommendations, signaling challenges transitioning to positive housing destinations.
•Affordable housing is in critically short supply, with a 1% vacancy rate for low-cost rental units in Kane County.
There is an urgent need for more permanent supportive housing, expanded emergency shelter capacity, increased access to mental and behavioral health services for those experiencing homelessness, and workforce development.
Housing has long been recognized as a critical social determinant of health, with strong links between housing instability and negative physical and mental health outcomes. The management of the Continuum of Care was recently moved to the Health Department, strengthening the connection between housing services and health interventions.
“This report reinforces that where we live affects how well we live,” said Michael Isaacson, Executive Director of the Kane County Health Department. “By integrating housing efforts within the Health Department, we are aligning services that address both the immediate needs of individuals experiencing homelessness and the broader systemic factors that impact health and well-being.”
The Kane County Continuum of Care (CoC) is a network of nearly 30 local agencies collaborating to prevent and end homelessness. The CoC acts as a pass-through for about $6 million of state and federal funds each year and supports a variety of housing and services for homeless individuals and families including rapid rehousing, homelessness prevention, street outreach, emergency shelter services and shelter diversion. The report is part of a federally mandated process to assess the scope, causes, and trends of homelessness in the county and is an important tool for the CoC’s strategic planning, funding allocation and program development. Data were gathered via an inter-agency data system, shelter and housing head counts, housing inventory counts, surveys, interviews and focus groups.
To view the full report and learn more about local housing resources and health initiatives, visit: www.kanehealth.com/Pages/Housing.aspx
—Kane County government