About Us

In 1990, Sr. Margaret Suerth conducted a survey
sent to area churches, social service agencies, hospitals, and township supervisors to determine whether overnight shelter was needed in the Illinois Valley. The response from all those questioned was that over a 12 month period there had been 800 requests for overnight shelter therefore concluding that there definately was a need.

In 1991 the Illinois Valley Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) opened. Since 1991, PADS has served over 3000 inidividuals of which 339 were children. PADS has served well over 100,000 meals to guests.

PADS serves five counties which include LaSalle, Marshall, Bureau, Grundy, and Putnam county. PADS operates two shelters in two communities which are 15 miles apart. The Ottawa site has 18 beds and
is housed in a 1, 200 square foot rented building. The Peru site has 22 beds in a 3,200 square foot building. There are separate sleeping quarters for men and women.

The PADS shelters service a combined area with a population of over 50,000 and increasing every year. Roughly, 90% of PADS guests are from the local communities. A dedicated staff of seven employees and about 600 volunteers staff the shelters seven nights a week for 12 hours from October 1 to April 30. PADS offers sevice without discrimination.

There is a policy manual in each office as well as an instructional handbook for each volunteer. Shelter rules are given and read to each individual and a security check is done each evening upon entrance.
Working within our comminty PADS makes many referrals to the social service and medical professionals in our network of providers.

We successfully assist residents in finding jobs, housing, medical care, mental health assistance, and child care when needed.

How Are We Funded?

PADS recieves about a third of their budget from state grants and the other two thirds from donations generated from the communities which they serve. PADS also operates a resale shop called Lily Pads which assists PADS in their financial budget.

The chart below will identify where the monies come from and how it is spent:

Fiscal Year 2008
Budget $299,126

Grant Sources:
IL Dept of Human Services $54,046
IL Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity $12,600
Federal Emergency Management Agency $2,000