Health & Community Service Committee Meeting – February 3, 2026

The Lake County Health and Community Service Committee met on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 8:30 AM. The meeting covered a range of new business items including emergency appropriations, grant acceptances, and an extensive discussion on the status of federal funding for county departments. The committee approved several resolutions and heard updates from department directors.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes from the December 2, 2025 meeting were approved by unanimous voice vote.

Discussion Items

• Item 8.2 – Emergency Appropriation for Environmental Review Record: The committee approved a joint resolution authorizing an emergency appropriation of $10,768.14 for completing an environmental review record. The funds were collected from agreements with agencies (e.g., Lake County Housing Authority, Jewish Community Centers of Chicago) to compensate staff time for reports they cannot perform.
• Item 8.3 – Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) for HMIS: Approved a joint resolution accepting $4,069 from the Illinois Department of Human Services for grant administration and management of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). The funds offset staff salary costs for the HMIS manager. Member Maine asked whether the budget had already accounted for this salary; Community Development Director Dominic Strezzo explained the grant is received annually but the agreement was executed late.
• Item 8.4 – Healthy Houses Program Grant ($2 Million): Approved an emergency appropriation of $2 million from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for the Healthy Houses program. The grant will reimburse private landlords for HVAC improvements in affordable rental properties (up to 6 units per property, tenants at or below 80% Area Median Income). Strezzo noted the tight timeline (expenditures by June 2027) and that readiness and income documentation will be key. The program will be promoted through the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless and the landlord workgroup.
• Item 8.5 – Home ARP Allocation Plan Amendment (Permanent Supportive Housing): Approved the second amendment to the HOME-ARP allocation plan, allocating approximately $5 million toward a 24-unit permanent supportive housing project in Mundelein (partnership with PADS Lake County, Community Partners for Affordable Housing, and Lake County Housing Authority). The units will serve households below 60% AMI, with 15 units below 30% AMI. The project is contingent on state funding. Members discussed the need for larger units to serve families and aging populations; Chair Hart raised the potential impact of federal cuts to supportive housing funding, but Strezzo confirmed the project's pro forma is independent of those COC dollars.
• Item 8.6 – Third Amendment to PY2025 HUD Annual Action Plan: Approved four reallocations: (1) $120,000 from Waukegan owner-occupied rehab to down payment assistance; (2) $200,000 from a Lake Forest senior project to a community land trust and the EB Lee Senior Apartment in Libertyville; (3) and (4) $200,000 from Liberty Arms roof repairs to an environmental remediation pool for the Healthy Houses program.
• Item 8.7 – DCEO Workforce Innovation Grant ($119,123.05): Approved an emergency appropriation for a new grant to offset personnel costs for launching a new case management system. The lead trainer will work with career planners in Lake, McHenry, and DuPage counties.
• Item 8.8 – HIV Screening Development Grant ($12,550): Accepted additional funding from the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago to support HIV screening and staff training in the substance abuse program. Member Maine asked about progress toward the 90-90-90 goals; Health Department staff agreed to provide updated metrics.
• Item 8.9 – Children’s Advocacy Center VOCA Grant ($40,266): Approved additional funding to continue a bilingual senior therapist at the Children’s Advocacy Center. Data shows 79% of children show a reduction in trauma symptoms from these services.
• Item 8.10 – Ryan White Part A Grant ($75,980): Accepted additional funding to purchase vaccines (Shingrix, Hep A, Hep B, HPV, meningitis) for HIV patients at the MMC clinic, which serves 377 clients (about 50% of the HIV population in the county). The clinic reports a 93% viral suppression rate.
• Item 8.11 – Ryan White Part A Grant ($147,152): Approved additional funding to support two medical case managers and one non‑medical case manager for HIV clients, taking over services previously provided by Catholic Charities.
• Item 8.12 – Update on Status of Federal Funding: County Administrator Patrice Sutton presented a plan to address the uncertainty of federal grants. Analysis of three departments (Health, Community Development, Workforce Development) identified $26.9 million at risk out of $36.5 million in current awards. The proposal includes a 60-day safety net costing $4.3 million to allow time for mitigation, client transition, or court reversals. The committee expressed general support for: (1) loosening the budget policy that requires immediate termination of grant-funded staff when grants end, to allow a safety-net period; (2) using contingency funds or reserves for an emergency appropriation; and (3) continuing to refine the prioritization framework. Directors from Health, Community Development, and Workforce Development described the chaotic nature of funding notices and the impact on staff and clients. Members stressed the need to protect life‑saving programs and to have a broader discussion about fund balance and priorities at the Financial & Administrative Committee.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda – Approved by voice vote.
• Items 8.2 through 8.11 – All emergency appropriations and grant acceptances approved by voice vote (no opposition recorded).
• Item 8.12 – Committee concurrence to continue developing a plan for a safety‑net fund and to review budget policy regarding grant‑funded staff. Further discussion on fund balance and levy policy will proceed to the Financial & Administrative Committee. The next meeting was scheduled for February 24, 2026.