Fortitude Community Outreach has been working tirelessly to provide shelter for the homeless of Kankakee County. It is imperative that a suitable, permanent shelter site be secured NOW. While initial plans to build a site were derailed by skyrocketing inflation, a suitable building for sale was located at 1284 S. Fourth, Kankakee.
Fortitude has been successfully sheltering the homeless at donated space in churches throughout the county since 2019. We have grown to now require a site of our own. We serve utilizing a trauma-informed, customer service model, meaning we work to treat guests with respect and care, prioritizing their needs, and helping them reach self-sufficiency. We also prioritize the needs of the community, creating rules for safety and enforcing strict guidelines that restrict loitering on property before and after sheltering times (6:30pm to 7:30am) and ensuring guests do not leave and return once checked in (except for a few supervised smoke breaks). Currently we shelter from Oct. 1 to May 1.

We have raised $325,000 in Capital funds that can be used to purchase the building in cash and are approved for financing that more than covers all needed rehab and updates on the building.

The site can be ready for sheltering this fall ONLY IF the City Council approves a re-zone of the property and a conditional use permit. Please let City Council members know you support this shelter site!