Urbana considering applying for $1.2M Hope Village grant, eyeing 2026 opening

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — At Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting in Urbana, the city will be getting ready to take a big step and potentially fill a funding gap to construct Hope Village. It will be a supportive housing community on South Federal Drive in Urbana.

“The construction costs today stand at about $12.5 million, and they have about $10 million already,” Diane Marlin, Urbana’s mayor, said.

A $1.2 million dollar grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) could be the answer allowing construction to resume. Some work has been done, but there is a long way to go.

It will make sure 30 homes and a community center will be constructed and later help those with serious medical needs and who are experiencing homelessness.

The project means a lot to Marlin, and she hopes it will help Champaign County soon.

“It’s providing housing for people who are very ill, who typically don’t do well in congregate shelters, who otherwise would probably be homeless and who need a lot of medical support and services,” she said. “This project allows them to live in a place with dignity. The name is good because it gives people hope.”

She noted the importance of ongoing funding as well and said it will cost about $3 million a year to operate.

Regarding construction, Carle Health, one of the project partners, said it should be finished by 2025 and ready for residents by early 2026.

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