CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - The Emergency Shelter for Families in Champaign reached an important milestone Tuesday morning.
The shelter celebrated 10 years and hosted a public event that included a tour of the facility and a lunch.
The shelter has welcomed thousands of people through its doors over the years.
Community Services Director of the Regional Planning Commission Lisa Benson described what the shelter has accomplished since it opened.
"Over these 10 years, we've served 1,039 families," Benson said. "They all had minor children, and we've been able to provide over 70,000 nights of shelter to these families."
Homelessness has continued to grow in Champaign, and the shelter is meeting that demand.
It stands out as one of the best options for those in need, helping families move into stable housing quickly.
"95% of the families that we have served have exited to stable housing, so that's a huge success for us," Benson said.
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