Home Illinois NOFO


Overview
DCEO, in collaboration with IDHS, is thrilled to announce a substantial $5 million in funding for the Home Illinois project. This significant investment will play a crucial role in connecting individuals experiencing Homelessness to employment and establishing systemic coordination of the homeless response system and workforce system.

DCEO is partnering with the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness to Prevent and End Homelessness. This collaboration supports the strategies outlined in Illinois' Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness [1]. The NOFO, a vital component of this partnership, will specifically support Strategy #3 (Secure Financial Stability) of the Plan. It will do so by funding a pilot project to be implemented in three to five Continuum of Care (COC) areas in Illinois. This project will directly connect individuals experiencing Homelessness to employment and demonstrate systemic coordination of the homeless response system and workforce system. The intended outcome of this coordinated effort is to enhance employment opportunities, thereby improving individuals' financial stability and ability to afford permanent housing in their communities.

Read the press release​ about the Home Illinois funding

Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness.png ILDCEO Logo 2024.png


Program De​sign
The JTED Home Illinois Project is a collaboration between the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Department of Human Services ("IDHS") and the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness to Prevent and End Homelessness to support strategies identified in Illinois' Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. The project will support Strategy #3 (Secure Financial Stability) of the Plan by funding pilot projects to be implemented in three to five Continuum of Care ("COC") areas in Illinois that connect people who are experiencing homelessness to employment and that demonstrate systemic coordination of the homeless response system and workforce system. The intended result of coordinating is to improve employment opportunities, individuals' financial stability, and their ability to afford permanent housing in their communities. 

Who can apply for funding:
Entities eligible to apply for a grant award under this NOFO must be either:

  1. The lead entity of a COC organization, including private nonprofit organizations (which may include a faith-based organization); Note: COCs that are government entities are NOT eligible to apply as the lead applicant; or
  2. A federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ("WIOA") administrative entity (Local Workforce Innovation Area). Note: WIOA administrative entities that are government entities are eligible to apply.
All applicants must demonstrate expertise and effectiveness in administering workforce development programs [20 ILCS 605/605-415(b)] or partner with an entity with this experience. 

Who will the funding serve: 
Eligible participants under this project are individuals experiencing homelessness who reside in shelters or who participate in a Rapid Re-housing (RRH) Program as defined in the NOFO.

What is the Service Delivery Model?
The Home Illinois: Illinois' Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness report sets the foundational vision for ending homelessness in the state. Through established and new innovative strategies, Illinois residents, community agencies, and state government will work together to prevent entries into shelters. When literal homelessness does occur, the experience will be rare, brief and a one-time occurrence. IDHS: Home Illinois, Illinois' Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness (state.il.us). The Home Illinois project funded under this NOFO will support Strategy #3 to secure financial stability for individuals experiencing homelessness.   

Key components of the project include:

Partnerships:  At a minimum, the pilot programs must have a partnership between the lead agency of the COC in the area, the Local Workforce Innovation Area(s) ("LWIA"), and one or more organizations that operate an RRH program or shelter in the area. 

Employment Navigation: The pilot program must have at least one dedicated staff member who is responsible for helping individuals find appropriate work readiness, training, and/or support services.  

Support Strategies: The pilot program must have clear strategies designed to help job seekers follow through on their employment plans.

Work Readiness Strategies:  The pilot program must include services that prepare individuals for job search and work.  

Training and Education:  The pilot program must include strategies to help individuals find training or education services that support their employment and career goals. 

Equity-Focused Program Culture:  Applicants must demonstrate how the program will increase participants' access, enrollment, completion, and retention.


Submission Details
​Application Deadline:  Applications for this opportunity that are included in first round of reviews must be submitted by 5:00 PM CST on Friday, May 3rd, 2024.  After this date the Department may accept applications on a rolling first come first served basis through December 31, 2024, or until the of all of the grant funds available for this program have been awarded. Failure to meet the application deadline or failure to submit all required materials may result in the Department returning the application without review or may preclude the Department from making the award.

Application Submission Requirements:  Application materials must be submitted to the Department via the SmartSheet. The link to the SmartSheet is in the NOFO. The Department will not accept applications submitted by mail, overnight mail, diskette, or by fax machine.  Electronic submissions including links to documents stored in Google Docs or other cloud-based servers are not allowed.  The Department is under no obligation to review applications that do not comply with the above requirements. 

An informational webinar will be held on March 26, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Information about how to access the webinar is available under the Informational Sessions header below.


Funding Information
​This Notice of Funding Opportunity ("NOFO") is provided under the Illinois Job Training and Economic Development Grant Program (JTED) 20 ILCS 605/605-415 (JTED Act) and the rules adopted in support of the JTED Act, 56 Ill. Admin. Code Part 2660 (JTED Rules).

This grant program is utilizing State of Illinois General Revenue Funds appropriated by the General Assembly in the State Fiscal Year 2024 budget.  Funding details are provided below.  The anticipated start date for awards is July 1, 2024.  The period of performance is expected to be July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026, which includes a planning period not to exceed six months.

Total Funds Available: $5,000,000
Anticipated Number of Grants: 3-5
Funding Range: $1,000,000 - $2,000,000
Anticipated Grant Term/Performance Period: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026 (2-year grants)

Based on successful performance and if funds are available, the Department may determine that grant extensions and additions of funds to current grantees will be permitted.


FAQs

JTED Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Home Illinois Specific Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - forthcoming

There is currently a bug affecting users running a newer version of Microsoft's Edge Browser. This bug forces users to log into Illinois workNet when they click on a link to view any Office document file (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.). Until this issue has been resolved by Microsoft, affected users can download the file via an alternate browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) or do the following to download via Edge:
  1. Right click on the file
  2. Click "Save link as"
  3. Download the file to your computer
This will allow you to view the file without logging into Illinois workNet.

NOFO Materials

Resources
Useful State Resources for Successful Applications
Home Illinois: Illinois' Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness Report
Partnerships - MOU, Business Engagement, etc.
Equity and Employment
Career Pathways and Work-Based Learning
Support Service and Barrier Reduction
 

Training videos will introduce current and potential grantees to the content, functions, and processes of grant programs. Under each video you will find a brief overview of the subject matter along with any supplemental resources. The video training can be found on DCEO website at the below link.

Video Training & Resources (illinois.gov)


Informational Sessions
​Informational Sessions will be held within the first two weeks​ of NOFO development to assure that all applicants will have the skills needed to submit a competitive applic​​ation regardless of familiarity with Department funding opportunities.​

​​Content
Date​ Time​ Description​ Recording/Materials
​Meet and Greet
March 20, 2024​
11:00am - 12:00pm​ ​This event provides a unique platform for Local Workforce Innovation Areas (LWIAs) and Continuum of Care (CoC) Organizations to gain insights into the NOFO and its partnership requirements.
​Application Technical Assistance Conference
March 26, 2024​ 1:00 - 3:00pm Overview of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) including details of the award, restrictions, definitions, requirements, and target population.​
​Chicago Jobs Council introduces the Employment & Income Navigation Pilot
April 11, 2024​ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm​ ​Join us Thursday, April 11, for a webinar to learn about the Employment & Income Navigation Pilot, a two-year pilot program, managed by All Chicago, that connected Chicagoans in Rapid Rehousing Programs to employment and income supports during the pandemic. Representatives from ScaleLit, who offered employment navigation, and Legal Council for Health Justice, who offered SSI/SSDI disability benefits advocacy (SOAR advocacy), will share about the development of the model, key learnings and challenges, and what the future holds.​
Re​gister






NOFO Technical Assistance Office Hours
Applicants are invited to sign up for Technical Assistance Office Hours to receive one-on-one assistance to prepare their proposals. These Office Hours provide an opportunity to ask questions related to the intent of the JTED NOFO. Office hours will be held on the following Tuesdays: April 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm. You may join with this link​.