Decatur family is homeless no more, thanks to non-profit

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — A non-profit organization in Decatur is finished with its new home for one homeless family.

The project showcased the Decatur community working together to provide a special need for the less fortunate. Empowerment Opportunity Center (EOC) Specialist Reese Caldwell is someone who works closely with the candidates.

“That’s the reason why we have this house here, for the families, and give them a fresh redo, restart in life,” he said.

Officials said the home started off as a foreclosure through Land of Lincoln Credit Union, who then partnered with the City of Decatur. They then fixed it up to pass over to EOC for their Emergency Transitional Housing Program.

“Ultimately, the other option would have been this house would have been demo’d and this house would have become another vacant lot,” Decatur’s Deputy City Manager Jon Kindseth said.

Kindseth said they put nearly $80,000 into this project. The work took about a year to complete. Now, EOC is looking for an unhoused family.

“This is just a stepping stone to help, you know, as we say, transition into a permanent solution,” Caldwell said.

The non-profit organization provides a two-year stay rent-free.

“It’s not just about this house. It’s about the collaboration. It’s about the workforce development opportunities,” Kindseth said.

During the process, their goal is to help the family get into a better situation by finding a job and being able to get their own home someday.

“We do this every day,” Caldwell said. “And to be able to say, ‘Hey, here’s a family that can come in here,’ I will love it.”

Caldwell thanked all the partners for their help — but the work doesn’t stop here. She said they have to furnish the home then go through the evaluation process of selecting a candidate.

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