Arrowleaf has been awarded a $60,000 grant to begin planning Southern Illinois’ first medical respite program.

The funding comes from the Illinois Public Health Institute as part of a statewide effort to reduce hospital readmissions and support people experiencing homelessness.

Arrowleaf says the plan includes renovating a building in Anna to create a medical respite site with six private rooms and shared recovery areas. CEO Sherrie Crabb says too many people are discharged from the hospital with nowhere safe to heal, and this project aims to fill that gap.

Over the next year, Arrowleaf will work with architects, local hospitals, and partners to design the program. The organization plans to apply for additional funding once the planning phase is complete.