Expanding Our Capacity, Serving Our Community

In a family, when one member is sick or troubled, the others rally together to support and uplift their loved one.

The same is true for communities. We’ve seen countless examples here in Monroe County of our community rallying together to support a family in need or help a sick or injured child.

That communal selflessness often translates to other types of communities as well.

That’s why Human Support Services is fortunate to be a part of several.

We’re proud to be a part of the generous, supportive community of Monroe County, the geographic location where we serve our clients. But we’re equally grateful to be a part of the nonprofit community in Southwestern Illinois.

We’re fortunate to work alongside organizations who serve our region, from the YMCA and the Monroe County House of Neighborly Service, to our fellow mental health organizations like Human Service Center and Monroe Council for the Handicapped.

In a time when many nonprofits are struggling due to the state budget crisis, it has never been more important for our nonprofit community to help one another and fill in to provide services whenever we can.

That’s why when HSS learned a residential home in Evansville would soon be closing its doors, we hoped to find a way we could help the residents who would be displaced.

At that time, HSS only had housing available for 24 individuals with developmental disabilities.  Twenty-two of those residential openings were filled, but we gladly welcomed two clients from the Evansville home to bring us to capacity.

Then, through a series of fortunate events, we were able to expand our capacity by three more spots, increasing our capacity to 27!

So far, we’ve been able to welcome two more clients from the Evansville residence.

We’re delighted to report that several of these clients have family in Monroe County, which means their new living arrangements give them the opportunity to be closer to their loved ones.

In a time when so many nonprofits are facing uncertainty – and we too have been concerned with the state’s budget crisis – we are proud that we were able to forge ahead and provide homes for as many of our neighbors in need as we could.

Other organizations and individuals in our community have certainly been there for HSS and our clients many, many times – in ways too numerous to mention.

That’s what a true sense of community means, to do whatever small part you or your organization can to help and keep moving forward when others need you.