SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – When you call the police, sometimes what you really need are social services that others provide. That’s where Springfield’s co-responder program comes in. And it’s in for $2,948,330 in state grant money.

“This represents another step in what we are going to be able to do to provide assistance to the community and expand even more the realms of mental health,” said the city’s Ethan Posey.

Posey (pictured, right, with police chief Joe Behl), director of community relations for the city, says he wants to, for example, help homeless people with the transition to the available services.

“Most people facing homelessness don’t have time,” Posey told aldermen. “Even if it only takes two weeks, this allows us to say, hey, for that two-week span as you are going through that coordinated entry into the system so you can get rapid re-housing, we can put you up in a hotel, so you’re not out in the cold. We have food vouchers.”

The city council votes Tuesday whether to accept from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.