Phoenix Community Development Services

08/29/2026

We are thrilled to be part of BASH Peoria this year!

This year marks 35 years of BASH, and we are grateful that they continue to donate proceeds to support Phoenix CDS.

BASH is happening Saturday, September 19, with a full day of events for everyone to enjoy, including a motorcycle parade, bike show, food, music, and a huge auction.

We can't wait to see you there!

Support from events like BASH helps Phoenix CDS continue Turning Lives Around.

08/28/2026

Supportive housing can provide the stability someone needs to begin working toward their next goal.

For many of the individuals we serve, that goal is employment.

At Phoenix CDS, our Workforce Development team works with consumers to explore education, build new skills, find employment, and maintain their jobs. Having a stable place to live can give individuals the opportunity to focus on these goals and work toward greater independence.

Last year, 53 individuals secured employment through our Workforce Development Program, while 48 participated in hands on employment opportunities.

Employment is more than a paycheck. It can build confidence, stability, and self sufficiency.

Helping individuals build toward independence is another way we continue Turning Lives Around.

08/27/2026

We can share statistics all day, but one of the best ways to understand the impact of supportive housing is by listening to the people who have experienced it.

Today, we hear from Zach of Shaffer Beautification about how supportive housing helped turn his life around.

After a series of surgeries, Zach found himself homeless. His recovery was not easy. "I had to relearn everything. How to walk, how to talk... today I still stutter bad." Between the months in the hospital Zach was unable to work. Without a nearby support system, eventually he found himself living in his car. During that time, he also struggled with substance use while navigating homelessness.

Then Zach found housing through Phoenix CDS. "Being housed, I have a safe place. I was able to focus on my substance abuse." Today, Zach is three years sober.

With the stability of housing, Zach was able to focus on other areas of his life. He worked with our Workforce Development Program, regained his confidence, and eventually started his own business. Zach even moved out of our supportive housing program.

"Today, I have my place... and today I have a business with 120 clients."

Every person we serve has a story. Some stories are still being written.

Zach's story is a reminder of why supportive housing matters. When someone has a safe and stable place to call home, they can begin focusing on what comes next. That stability is how we continue Turning Lives Around.

08/26/2026

Supportive housing is about more than having a place to live.

For many individuals, maintaining housing also means having access to the support they need to manage mental health, build daily living skills, and navigate the challenges that come with stability.

At Phoenix CDS, our Behavioral Health team works alongside our consumers to provide support based on their individual needs and goals.

Because when people have a safe place to live and the support they need to succeed, they have a stronger foundation to build their future.

This is how we continue Turning Lives Around.

08/24/2026

What if we looked at supportive housing not simply as a housing intervention, but as a way to reduce the costly cycle of crisis?

Communities can spend $25,000 or more per person each year responding to homelessness through emergency departments, shelters, law enforcement, jails, and other crisis systems. Incarceration alone can cost approximately $131 per day, compared with about $72 per day for housing with supportive services.

And the impact can be seen in real-world data.

Data collected on Phoenix CDS residents identified nearly 12 emergency department visits among just three individuals during the four months leading up to housing. During the four months following placement into supportive housing, those same three individuals had zero ED visits.

That is more than a housing success story. It demonstrates how stable housing and access to supportive services can help interrupt patterns of crisis-system utilization while creating better opportunities for people to stabilize and thrive.

Supportive housing saves more than money—it creates stability, improves outcomes, and gives people the opportunity to move forward.

This Supportive Housing Week, let's recognize housing as a critical investment in healthier people, stronger communities, and more effective use of public resources.

08/15/2026

We've heard a lot of questions about Phoenix Manor, our upcoming supportive housing project.

We want to make sure our community has access to information about what we are planning, so we have created a detailed breakdown of the Phoenix Manor project. You can now find our plans on the Phoenix CDS website.

We know there is interest in learning more about this project, and we want to continue sharing information and answering questions as Phoenix Manor moves forward.

By working together to better understand the needs of our community and how Phoenix Manor can make a difference, we can continue Turning Lives Around.

Learn more about Phoenix Manor at

Phoenix Manor  We know Phoenix Manor has generated questions and interest from our community. We want to make information about the project easy to find and understand.We have created a detailed overview of our plans for Phoenix Manor, including information about the project, supportive housing, se...

08/10/2026

We want to thank Great Harvest Bread Co. Peoria, IL for their continued support of Phoenix CDS!

Earlier this year, Great Harvest reached out and asked if we could use their leftover goods at the end of each week. Since then, we have been putting their donations to good use by stocking our onsite pantry, supporting our Outreach Team, and providing food for our Medical Respite Program.

We are grateful for community support like this. Together, we can continue Turning Lives Around.

08/06/2026

We want to thank everyone who came together to discuss the continued success of our Workforce Development Program.

For those who may not know, Phoenix CDS's Workforce Development Program is one of only four Home Illinois Workforce Pilot Programs in the state. The program was created to develop innovative ways to help individuals experiencing homelessness reconnect with education, training, and employment.

Yesterday, we were joined by DCEO, CareerLink, IDHS, the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, and the National Able Network as we discussed the future and continued expansion of this pilot program.

By working together, we can continue creating opportunities that lead to employment, self sufficiency, and long term stability.

Helping individuals build self sufficiency through employment is one more way Phoenix CDS continues Turning Lives Around.

07/27/2026

We want to thank Forrest Hill United Methodist Church for their generous donation of hygiene supplies for our Madison III residents.

Madison III provides housing for young adults ages 18 to 24, including individuals who may have aged out of foster care. Donations like these help ease some of the everyday challenges our residents face as they work toward stability and independence.

Support from our community makes a difference and helps us continue Turning Lives Around.

07/25/2026

We want to congratulate David on his new employment!

David has been working with our Workforce Development team to find employment, and we are so happy he found an opportunity at Lumin Innovations. So far, he is enjoying his new job, especially the independence that comes with it.

David is grateful for the support Phoenix CDS has been able to provide, and we are excited to continue supporting him as he works toward his goals.

Success stories like David's are why we show up every day and continue Turning Lives Around.