UPTOWN — Despite the launch of GoFundMe pages that seek to save an Uptown homeless, the facility will still close, its executive director said Tuesday.
In a note on the website of North Side Housing and Support Services, Director Richard Ducatenzeiler said several fundraising pages have sprung up claiming to raise funds for the shelter, which is shutting its doors after months of running on a shoestring.
None of the campaigns are run by the shelter or endorsed by officials that run it, he said.
"Please be forewarned that these campaigns are NOT being administered by North Side Housing & Supportive Services and we have no control over the usage or administration of these funds," Ducatenzeiler said on the website.
In addition, the program needs "far beyond" the goal of one of the campaigns, $100,000, to stay open, Ducatenzeiler said.
He said insufficient city funding and the Illinois State budget impasse were to blame for the closure.
At the end of June, North Side Housing and Support Services announced the shelter located in the lower level of the Preston Bradley Center at 941 W. Lawrence Ave., would close at the end of July. Its board of directors voted to close the shelter after the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services said it was unable "to process a contract" until a state budget was passed.
But the program announced it would stay open until the end of December after Illinois politicians signed a makeshift budget to keep the state afloat through the end of the year.
"Regardless of private funds being raised," the shelter will still close on Dec. 23, he said on the website. "We need far beyond the suggested $100k to keep the shelter open and funded in a sustainable fashion. That being said, we are touched and honored by the outpouring of support from the community and will continue to work toward ending homelessness in Chicago."
Those who want to help can donate to the organization's other programs at www.northsidehousing.org, Ducatenzeiler said on the website.
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