Several Springfield organizations focused on assisting people struggling with homelessness will receive funding from the state to support their work.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Several Springfield organizations focused on assisting people struggling with homelessness will receive funding from the state to support their work. 

The state is investing $2 million which will support permanent housing programs for people in Sangamon County. 

"Permanent, supportive housing combines stability with ongoing support," said Robert Gillespie, executive director of Helping Hands of Springfield, one of the groups receiving assistance. "Supportive housing keeps people close to health care, mental health services and local supports, allowing people to manage chronic illness, stabilize mental health and avoid repeated crises." 

This type of housing is a long-term solution. It includes a network of organizations, helping people find apartments or homes to move into, as they leave temporary shelters. Case workers help these people manage finances and other resources to ensure they don't become homeless again. 

The funding will support Sangamon County's goal to reach functional zero homelessness by 2028. 

"You can have a catastrophic circumstance hit you, and unfortunately lose whatever housing you have," said Governor J.B. Pritzker. "So that's what we mean by functional zero. Get it to a point where there is not any moment when you will actually be completely unhoused." 

While recent investments have been made into increasing the number of overnight and emergency shelters in the area, finding permanent housing after that is difficult. Josh Sabo, executive director of Heartland Housed, said in the last five years, the number of people entering permanent housing has increased by 300%. 

"Our community gets around $600,000 from the federal government," Sabo said. "With the Home Illinois Initiative, $1.2 million started coming to Sangamon County to create programs like this. This $2 million in additional dollars will help us grow these programs even further." 

There are current federal changes proposed to reduce funding for permanent housing programs by 50%. Sabo said this would decrease spending from $600,000 to $180,000, impacting 53 people. 

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