The United Way of Champaign County hopes people will pitch in to help those in need on "Giving Tuesday."

Champaign-Urbana’s emergency winter shelter for homeless men is on track to get an $18,000 grant from the city of Champaign. City Council members gave their preliminary approval for the funding at a study session Tuesday night.

An overnight winter shelter for homeless men begins operations Friday in Champaign, and will function through the end of March. The collaboration between the faith-based community and a number of local agencies was due in part to the state budget impasse, and the result of months of planning. First Presbyterian Church downtown will host the shelter during the week, while Faith United Methodist will serve in that role Friday and Saturday nights.

Champaign’s faith-based community has a short-term plan for two churches to provide overnight shelter to homeless men during the winter months. Two churches, First Presbyterian and Faith United Methodist, will be taking in up 30 men from the second week of January through March. Another site, New Covenant Fellowship Church, could be serving as a shelter soon, after some fire safety code updates. But conversations for a permanent site are ongoing.

One of the biggest casualties of the year-long budget impasse in Illinois has been social service agencies that receive funding from the state. Sue Grey is the president and CEO of the United Way of Champaign County. Illinois Public Media’s Brian Moline spoke with Grey about the effects of the budget impasse on social service agencies in the area.