Tag: Homeless

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Local Homeless – 2019 and now

By: Diane Benjamin https://www.nhipdata.org/local/upload/file/2024-HIC-Counts-by-State%20-%20Housing%20Efficiency.pdf The National Homeless Project Issued this document in 2025. Bloomington/Central Il is listed on PDF page 3: . Same report from 2019: https://www.nhipdata.org/local/upload/file/Success%20Formula%20-%20by%20CoC%202019.pdf PDF page 7: . These reports show homelessness is down from 2019 and the number who have found permanent housing is much higher now. These pictures are from […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Only posting so you don’t forget

By: Diane Benjamin Homeless cabins built in other cities like Denver have turned into money pits, attracted more homeless, and dramatically increase police calls: https://denvergazette.com/news/denver-homeless-village-911-calls-crime/article_4c2f35a8-714e-11ef-a8ad-fb8937d29b8c.html See more in this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/05/12/mayor-bradys-1st-meeting/ Remember the huge increase in police and fire calls when tent city sprouted downtown? Remember the trash from the last housing attempt? . Who […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Congrats! You are paying for the downtown cabins

By: Diane Benjamin Remember when Tari Renner’s rubber stamp Council passed a 1% Sales Tax increase? https://blnnews.com/2015/09/16/taxes-increases-would-be-easier-with-truth/ The County wanted a 1/4% for “mental health”. Instead Bloomington raised Sales Tax 1% and took 3/4% for themselves. I believe this tax was mostly to fund the jail expansion but since “mental health” is always the reason […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Growing Tent City in Normal: Community Concerns

By: Diane Benjamin These pictures were sent to me by a reader. This tent city is on Center Street in Normal across from where Steak and Shake used to be: . Note: Sugar Creek is much higher after yesterday’s rains. The reader was not only concerned about the trash but also wondered where all the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Toxic Empathy

By: Diane Benjamin Below is the opening paragraphs on the Safe Harbor (Salvation Army) website: https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/shelter/il_salvation-army-safe-harbor-shelter In order for the  Safe Harbor staff to assist clients in need of services, it is expected that all individuals receiving Safe Harbor services will work, to the best of their abilities, to better their situation and seek more permanent housing […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington last night

By: Diane Benjamin Three people spoke at Public Comment: Dan Brady, Surena Fish, and Gary Lambert. Brady wondered is the old Owens Nursery property the City is buying could house some homeless people on a temporary basis. Fish was frustrated that most of the Council didn’t attend the special PSCRB meeting with joint law enforcement […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

6 things

By: Diane Benjamin 1) The smoke from Canada is back: 2) The company Bloomington hired to do the $750,000 downtown study is all in on DEI. https://www.cmtengr.com/dei/ The report is due in August. The City keeps using recommendations from old outdated reports like Bring It On Bloomington and the Downtown Bloomington Task Force. How many […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Two things people have mentioned

By:  Diane Benjamin Follow-up:  https://blnnews.com/2019/07/12/jose-rodriguez-is-back-in-jail/ Jose Rodriguez was bailed out of jail again after his bond was reduced.  He was taken into custody by ICE agents.  I am trying to determine what happens next and if he will face prosecution here.  To be continued . . . Several people have noticed Tari isn’t living in […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

UPDATE: Torturing some, ignoring others

This church needs to file a lawsuit against the City of Bloomington for discrimination.  Government can’t pick and choose who they want to fine or put out of business. Any lawyers willing to help them out?  The City has unlimited funds – or at least they think they do! Meanwhile, nobody is helping them out. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Homeless in Bloomington-Normal

By:  Diane Benjamin According to a report by WMDB TV, there are around 250 homeless people in Bloomington-Normal. See their report here:  http://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/homeless-in-central-illinois/856395912 Safe Harbor and Home Sweet Home Mission are the only two emergency shelters in town, according to the story.  Both are constantly at full or almost full capacity. Bloomington raised the Sales Tax […]